Problems associated with soil compaction on plant growth have led to the evaluation of a system of disposing of large quantities of finely ground newsprint and broiler litter on agricultural land. A field study was conducted to evaluate the effects of trenching and mixing the excavated soil with newsprint and/or broiler litter on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) lint yield, growth, and rooting depth. The soil was a Cahaba-Wickham-Bassfield sandy loam (Typic Hapludults). Treatments included various ratios of soil:ground newsprint:broiler litter applied on the surface and in trenches up to 48-in deep. Backfill material was mixed mechanically and placed into trenches either 24-in or 48-in deep that were 4-in wide and 60 ft long. The results from the first year's data indicate that trenching in combination with newsprint and broiler litter additions increased cotton lint yield by 200 to 300 lbs A^-1. Trenching below 24-in had no beneficial effect on cotton yield. The effective soil volume was limited to rows on either side of the trench with no beneficial effects to the cotton rows 60-in and greater from the trench. Reducing the bulk density by trenching from 1.55 Mg M^-2 to 1.00-1.25 Mg m^-2 was the most important factor controlling cotton rooting depth. Since these sandy Coastal Plain soils reconsolidate within a growing season, the beneficial physical effects of newsprint are to retard the reconsolidation process. These results do suggest that newsprint can be disposed of on agriculture cropland with a positive effect on the crop that is grown.