Nematode community composition was compared for four farm cropping manageme
nt systems near Ithaca, Nebraska, USA. Management systems differed in their
source of nutrients and pest management, and were designated as manure onl
y (O), mineral fertilizer only (F), mineral fertilizer plus herbicides (KF)
, and mineral fertilizer, herbicides plus insecticides (HFI). All farming s
ystems were cultivated annually and planted to annual crops either in rotat
ion (O, F, HF systems) or continuous corn (HFI system), Eleven nematode com
munity (plant-parasites and free-living) and four microbial biomass indices
were measured in 1993, 18 years after establishment of management practice
s. Numbers of bacterivores and plant-parasites and maturity index (PPI and
PPI:MI) values were greater, and MI1-5 values smaller, with manure than min
eral fertilizer applications, MI2-5 values decreased with additions of herb
icides and/or insecticides but were not sensitive to source of nutrients. T
otal fungal biomass and active bacterial biomass were associated positively
with application of insecticides. Numbers of Pratylenchus increased and Ce
phalobus decreased with applications of manure compared to mineral fertiliz
ers. Numbers of Helicotylenchus decreased with additions of mineral fertili
zer, herbicides and insecticides but Monhystera and Mylonchulus abundance i
ncreased with insecticide applications. This study demonstrates differentia
l effects of pesticides and nutrient source on nematode community compositi
on.