The lack of an effective and consistent herbicide has made velvetleaf, spurred anoda and prickly sida troublesome weeds in Southeast Missouri cotton. The soil insecticide, Thimet, has been reported to safen cotton from Command injury. In 1989 and 1990, studies were established to evaluate cotton tolerance to Command and the safening ability of Thimet on Command treated cotton.

In 1989, Command at 1, 1.5 and 2 pt/A was applied preemergence (PRE) to the cotton variety 'Delcot 344' treated with Thimet at 0, 3, 5 and 7 lb/A applied infurrow at planting. Bleaching (0-14%) and stunting (0-13%) in treatments with no Thimet were minimal at 51 days after planting (DAP) and was undetected by 79 DAP. Thimet did not reduce bleaching or stunting caused by command when compared to treatments without Thimet at 51 DAP. However, bleaching and stunting were less than 10% in these treatments.

In 1990, Command was evaluated PRE at 1.5 and 2 pt/A following Treflan (1.5 pt/A) pre-plant incorporated (PPI) and Treflan PPI plus Cotoran (1.2 qts/A) PRE in cotton with no Thimet and Thimet at 5lb/A. No differences in bleaching were observed between Command rates with no Thimet. Less bleaching occurred in the Treflan PPI plus Cotoran plus Command PRE treatment than the Treflan PPI plus Command PRE treatment. Bleaching was less than 10% in all Thimet treatments. No bleaching was observed at 67 DAP. Thimet reduced stunting caused by Command at 27 DAP. Cotton was stunted less when Cotoran was tank-mixed with Command at 1.5 pt/A compared to Cotoran tank-mixed with Command at 2 pt/A. Command did not reduce cotton stands or yield when applied to cotton not treated with Thimet either year.