A four year study was conducted to compare ridge-till and conventional till cotton cropping systems at Portageville, Missouri. Ridge-till systems provided protection for cotton seedlings from wind and blowing sand. Cotton planted ridge-till into killed wheat was usually taller early in the season than conventional till cotton with greater light interception by leaves. Lint yields from cotton planted with ridge-till into killed wheat were either equal or greater than yields with conventional till cotton. Wheat cover crop in continuous ridge-till systems became less important after two growing seasons as native winter weeds became established.