32 



using the recommended practices for Florida. Weeds were controlled 

 by cultivation and handweeding, except for first crop of bulb onion 

 where DCPA (dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate) at 6.? kg a.i./ha and 

 cb-lorpropham (isopropyl m-chlorocaxbanilate) at 1.0 kg a.i./ha were 

 sprayed preemergence. Information about cultural practices for each 

 crop is summaLrized in Table 1 . 



Crop and cropping pattern duration including the interval 

 between crops were recorded. Crop duration was counted from seeding to 

 last harvest. Bulb onions were graded according to standard sizes of 

 large (diairteter greater than 7 cm) , medium (5 to 7 cm) , and small 

 (less than 5 cm). Production costs and returns to management were 

 based on 2-year average prices of production inputs and market prices 

 at the time of harvest. These production costs and market prices 

 ('4-6, 108, 150) were compared with ^-y^sx averages (I9) to determine 

 long-term profitability. 



Results and Discussion 



Crop em/ironment . The first cropping year (1977-78) was character- 

 ized by higher rainfall (1,^95 imh) compared to the second year (726 ram) 

 (Figs, 1 and 2). Most rainfall occurred during July and August in 

 1977-78. The rainfall pattern for 1978-79 followed the 1 3 -year weekly 

 average, except that the dry period was extended (Fig. 2). 



The winter cf 1977-78 was colder than 1978-79 (Figs. 1 and 2). 

 The lowest weekly minimum temperature was -1 A in I977-78 and 0.02 C 

 in 1 978-79 • Low temperatures in winter retarded the growth of balb 

 onion and English pea resulting in an extended growing period. The 



