27 



mulch was most effective for watermelon. Squash produced highest yield 

 when grown with white on black mulch (20) . Growing vegetables under 

 tobacco shades increased total yields of cucumber, but reduced tomato and 

 pole bean yields (164, 175). 



Sequential planting of selected vegetable cultivars also extended 

 the production season to late spring and summer in Gainesville (61, 63, 

 64, 63, 66, 67). Halsey and Kostewicz (63) reported high marketable 

 yields for some vegetable crops grown during extended seasons. Vegetable 

 crops- included in their cultivar and date of planting experiments were 

 snap bean, southern pea, lima bean, cabbage, collard, squash, and onion. 

 In sequential plantings involving seven vegetable crops arranged in four 

 cropping patterns, Palada et al. (126) reported no significant yield 

 increase with increasing levels of fertilizer, but returns to manage- 

 ment on a dollar/ha basis were higher in high management crops than in 

 low management crops. 



Research aimed at developing appropriate crop m.anagement techno- 

 logies for sequential cropping patterns is needed to improve vegetable 

 cropping systems throughout Florida. The purpose of this study was to 

 evaluate resource use, productivity, and profitability of several 

 vegetable crops planted in four year-round cropping patterns for North 

 Florida. 



Materials and Methods 



This 2-year study was conducted at the Horticultural Unit of the 

 University of Florida at Gainesville (29° 45' N latitude, 82° 20' W 

 longitude) beginning in October 1977 1 and terminating in October 1979- 



