In 1991, 36 random cotton fields were surveyed in Autauga and Elmore Counties in Central Alabama. In 2001, these same fields were revisited along with 32 additional fields. The 2001 survey included soil samples at 3 depths and field and cropping conditions. In spite of a dramatic shift toward conservation tillage in the past decade (56% conservation tillage in 2001 versus none in 1991), traffic pans remain a potential yield-limiting factor in cotton fields of Central Alabama. Increased use of paratilling and in-row subsoiling has not eliminated the presence of traffic pans within the surface 12 inches of soil. This situation is aggravated by poor overall soil quality as indicated by very low soil organic matter (mean=0.6%). Cover crops are used on only 15% of the fields in 2001. In general, soil fertility does not appear to be a limiting factor in cotton production. Most fields sampled had optimum soil pH and high P and K in the surface 8 inches of soil. While the extractant used for micronutrients and metals is not ideally correlated with plant availability, it does provide some indication that micronutrient availability and metal contamination of cotton fields is not a major concern at this time.