During 1980 and 1981 nematode populations were compared before and after eight different summer management strategies on land used for autumn and winter vegetable production in south Florida. The various strategies assessed were: summer fallow cover cropping with maize (Zea mays L.) or sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.); maintenance of uniform weed cover of Parthenium hysterophorus L., Phyllanthus carolinensis Walt., or Cyperus esculentus L.; or maintenance of weed cover consisting of mixtures of these weeds and other plant species. Populations of Rotylenchulus reniformis Linford & Oliveira increased to high levels on the broadleaf weed species grown, reaching the highest levels in plots containing P hysterophorus alone or in combination with other weed species. Populations were maintained on summer cover crops of maize or sorghum but declined under summer fallow. Populations of Quinisulcius acutus (Allen) Siddiqi and Helicotylenchus dihystera (Cobb) Sher increased under all strategies exc
