Nitrogen and tillage interactions have been documented for some crops grown on soils of the Coastal Plain, but not for cotton. Nine experiments consisting of 5 nitrogen rates (0, 30, 60, 90, 120 lbs N/A) and two tillage treatments (subsoiled and non subsoiled) in a 5 x 2 factorial randomized complete block design were conducted from 1986-1989 in the Coastal Plain of North Carolina to evaluate the interactions of tillage nitrogen rates on cotton yield and quality. Yields were increased 40 lbs/A (p=0.01) following in-row subsoiling. Maximum yields in subsoiled plots were obtained when 60 lb/A was applied while maximum yields in non-subsoiled plots were observed when 90 lb/A N was applied. Location x tillage and locations x N rate interactions were observed in the analysis of variance, but N rate x tillage interactions were not observed across locations. Responses to subsoiling were generally more pronounced at sites where yields were lowest due to drought and responses to N rates were negligible. At the five sites that responded to N rate, 120 lb N/A produced the highest yields. Plant mapping indicated that yield response to nitrogen was due to increased boll loading at higher fruiting branches and increased retention at position 2 and 3 of individual fruiting branches. Plant growth responses to tillage were less pronounced than those for nitrogen, and petiole nitrate-nitrogen responses to tillage were not observed stress N rates. These initial analysis document the independent benefits of in-row subsoiling and, under specific management scenarios, additional nitrogen fertilization.