Command 4EC is a broad spectrum, soil-applied, preemergent herbicide providing control of twenty (20) grass and twentyfive (25) broadleaf weeds. It is currently registered on several crops that include soybeans, pumpkins, peppers, and succulent peas. Registrations are currently pending for cotton, tobacco and sweet potatoes. Command will be registered for use in cotton as a pre-plant incorporated treatment, as a surface applied preemerge, and as a lay-by treatment.

During the early field trials it was found that Command was extremely effective on many weed species found in cotton. These species include velvetleaf, teaweed, spurred anoda and annual grasses. However, cotton also showed sensitivity to Command applications. Subsequently, FMC discovered that the use of organophosphate soil insecticides applied in-furrow at planting time would allow cotton to be grown in soil treated with Command without severe injury.

As a result of this discovery, field trials were conducted by FMC and several University researchers to determine whether other products currently registered for cotton, might provide similar activity. These trials showed that of all the products tested, including carbamate and organophosphate insecticides and/or nematicides, only soil applied treatments of disulfoton or phorate prevented bleaching, plant injury and/or stand loss at commercially of acceptable levels. Testing in subsequent years investigated use rates, methods of application, insecticide placement, possible effects on efficacy when the weed seed were in contact with the insecticides, and the possible effects of other herbicides, insecticides and fungicides that farmers might choose to apply.

The results of those trials have been reported during various technical meetings including the Beltwide Cotton Production Research conferences and the Southern Weed Science Society Annual Meeting and are found in the proceedings of those conferences. (References 1-14.)