Cropping dirration was longest in cropping pattern HM-HM-HM 

 (bulb onion-pole bean-collard) and shortest in LM-LM-LM (English pea- 

 southern pea-southern pea) and HM-LM-MM (bulb onion-southern pea- 

 mustard) . At the end of the cropping sequence , soil pH was lower than 

 the initial value in all cropping patterns, but the difference between 

 initial and final pH was greater in cropping patterns HM-HM-HM, HM-MM-LM, 

 and M-LM-MM than in LI^-LI'l-LM. Soil organic matter content decreased, 

 whereas total soluble salts increased in cropping pattern HM-HI'i-KM, 

 where high levels of fertilizer were applied. Cropping pattern LM-Dyi-LM 

 resulted in highest soil organic matter contenx after harvest of the 

 third crop. Soil N and exchangeable K were significantly hi^ier in 

 cropping pattern HM-HM-HM than in the other cropping patterns. E:cchange- 

 able X increased as fertilizer level increased in all cropping patterns. 



Increases in marketable yields were not obser^'ed with increasing 

 fertilizer level except for bulb onion, squash, and English pea, where 

 significant yield responses resulted from application of the medium 

 fertilizer level. Cropping pattern HM-HM-HM resulted in significantly 

 higher resource use and gross and net incomes, but rates of return to 

 production inputs such as fertilizer, labor, cash, and management were 

 similar among the cropping patterns. Planting low management and a 

 combination of high, medium, and low management crops in sequential 

 vegetable cropping patterns required low production inputs and were 

 efficient and profitable. Such cropping patterns offer greater yield 

 stability and the possibility of improved farm income. 



XI 



