Soil and root samples were collected in soybean from the North, Northwest and South regions of the Rio Grande do Sul. Plant-parasitic nematodes were identified from 40 samples, and the species of rootknot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) and spiral nematode (Helicotylenchus spp.) were determined by both esterase phenotype profile and morphological and morphometric characters. Nematodes detected in the soil samples included Meloidogyne (65%), Helicotylenchus (100%), Tylenchus (72.5%), Aphelenchus (17.5%), Paratylenchus (15%), and Pratylenchus (10%). Species of root-knot nematode identified in root samples included predominantly M. javanica Est J3 (82%), followed by M. arenaria Est A2 (31%), and M. morocciensis (6%). Species of spiral nematodes that were detected included H. dihystera (78%), H. pseudorobustus (11%), and H. multicinctus (11%) in the soil.