A 6-yr project comparing four cash grain–farming systems relevant to the mid-Atlantic region of the United States was conducted from 1993 to 1999. A wide range of parameters was sampled including soil health, nutrient and agrichemical movement, economic viability, and insect and weed communities. The systems and their approaches to weed management were: continuous no-till corn without (System A1) or with (System A2) rye cover crop and preplanned herbicides based on expected weed infestations; System B was a 2-yr corn–soybean rotation with conventionally tilled corn and no-tillage soybean, with preplanned herbicides based on expected weed infestations; System C was a 2-yr rotation with no-till corn, conventionally tilled wheat, and no-till double-cropped soybean, using postemergence (POST) herbicides on the basis of field scouting; and System D was a 3-yr rotation of corn-soybean-winter wheat with rye and hairy vetch cover crops, using cultivation and reduced rates of POST herbicides based on field scouting. Spring weed assessment in 1999 was similar for species evenness (Shannon's E) and diversity (Shannon's H′) indices. Weed density was lowest in System C because wheat in this system received a spring herbicide application. In the final fall assessment, Shannon's H′ was greater in System D than System C. Common lambsquarters, eastern black nightshade, and jimsonweed were more abundant in System D than Systems A1, A2, and C. Fall 1999 assessment also indicated Canada thistle was more prevalent in Systems A1 and A2 than the other three systems. During the 6-yr period, densities of jimsonweed, eastern black nightshade, morningglory species, crabgrass, and fall panicum dramatically increased in a particular system for 1 to 2 yr, then declined to levels similar to other systems. Overall, weed communities were quite stable and effective weed management did not result in dramatic changes in the weed community, regardless of the approach to cropping systems or weed management.

Nomenclature: Canada thistle, Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.; common lambsquarters, Chenopodium album L.; crabgrass species, Digitaria spp.; eastern black nightshade, Solanum ptycanthum Dun.; fall panicum, Panicum dichotomiflorum Michx.; jimsonweed, Datura stramonium L.; morningglory species, Ipomoea spp.; corn, Zea mays L.; hairy vetch, Vicia villosa Roth.; rye, Secale cereale L.; soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr.; winter wheat, Triticum aestivum L.