Command controls several economically important weeds commonly infesting cotton in Tennessee. The use of DiSyston and Thimet to ameliorate Command injury to cotton has been widely reported. Our objectives were to quantify Command activity on velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) and spurred anoda ( Anoda cristata) and to address the utility and economics of Command for weed management in cotton.

An experiment was conducted to quantify the activity of Command on velvetleaf and spurred anoda in cotton. The experiment was conducted at Jackson, Tennessee on a silt loam soil with 1.2% organic matter and pH of 7.3. DiSyston 15G (5 lb/a) and Terraclor Super X (10 lb/a) were applied in-furrow at the time of planting to 'Deltapine 50' on May 2, 1991. The entire experiment received Prowl and Cotoran (1.5 and 3 pt/a) broadcast preemergence (PRE). Velvetleaf was controlled with Command PRE at 0.5 pt/a while 1.0 pt/a was required to control spurred anoda. Rainfall of 1.9 inches was received within 4 days after application. No cotton injury was observed.

Experiments were also conducted at Jackson with 'Deltapine 50' planted May 22 and at Milan with 'Deltapine 51' planted June 3 to evaluate the utility of Command for weed management in cotton. Command (1.5 pt/a) or Zorial (1.25 lb/a) PRE following Treflan (1.5 pt/a) preplant incorporated followed by Cotoran (3 pt/a) PRE with Di-Syston 15G (5 lb/a) controlled Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) and velvetleaf >95%. Pitted morningglory (Xpomoea lacunosa) control was 90% with Command compared to 55% with Zorial at Jackson where rainfall of 2 inches was received within 8 days after planting, but it did not differ at Milan where rainfall did not occur for 8 days after planting. Lint yield did not differ between the Command and Zorial treatments at either location.

A no-till cotton trial planted to 'Deltapine 51' on May 23, 1991 with Di-Syston 15G (5 lb/a) in-furrow and Prowl plus Cotoran (1.5 pt/a + 1.2 qt/a) PRE with either Command (1.5 pt/a) or Zorial (1.25 lb/a) PRE was conducted at Milan. Rainfall of 1.5 inches was received 3 days after planting. Cotton injury was 47% with zorial combinations compared to 27% with the Command combinations. Late season control of velvetleaf and prickly sida was>80% with the Command combinations and <60% with Zorial combinations.

Weed management programs in cotton utilizing Command can be $3 to $15/a less expensive than those with Zorial; however, nutsedges (Cyperus spp.) may escape control.