Soils in the Macon Ridge area of Louisiana are typically low in organic matter, have poor physical structure, and are highly erodible. This study was conducted to determine the effects of tillage and cover crops on cotton growth, yield, and soil organic matter. The study was conducted from 1987 through 1996 on a Gigger silt loam soil (fine-silty, mixed, thermic Typic Fragidaulf). Tillage systems were conventional-till (CT), ridge-till (RT), and no-till (NT). Winter cover crops were native vegetation, crimson clover, hairy vetch, and wheat. At 30 days after planting, cotton plants were taller and had more nodes in NT than in RT and CT systems. Plant growth rate in CT was reduced compared with NT and RT as shown by a smaller NAWF at July 5 and 18 and TIL at July 18. From 1991 through 1993, NT cotton yielded 829 lb lint per acre, while RT yielded 703 lb lint per acre and CT yielded 779 lb lint per acre. Cotton following crimson clover yielded less than cotton following wheat, vetch, or native vegetation. From 1994 through 1996, NT cotton yielded 979 lbs lint per acre, while RT yielded 844 lb lint per acre and CT yielded 921 lb lint per acre. Cotton following wheat yielded 981 lb lint per acre while cotton following vetch yielded 824 lb lint per acre and cotton following native vegetation yielded 938 lb lint per acre. After six years of conservation tillage, soil organic matter had more than doubled in all treatments from an initial value of 0.5% to 1.2% due to a reduction in tillage intensity. After 10 years, NT and wheat plots had the highest levels of soil organic matter. Adoption of NT practices and winter cover crops in the Macon Ridge area of Louisiana would increase yields of cotton while minimizing soil erosion.