Effect of Cropping Systems on Production and Economic Returns of Ten Vegetable Crops

Experiments were conducted with vegetable crops which are commonly grown for profit on a 5- to 10-ha farm to determine: (1) the yield and performance of these crops; and (2) the differences in cost and net return between several cropping systems. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Jet Star), cabbage (Brassica oleracea Capitata group, L. cv. Sun-up), collards (Brassica oleracea Acephala group, L. cv. Vates), and muskmelon (Cucumis melo L. cv. Gold Star) were used with the intercrop system. Snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Provider and Bush Blue Lake), sweet corn (Zea mays Saccharata group, L. cv. Sundance), cauliflower (Brassica oleracea Italica group, L. cv. Snow Crown), summer squash (Cucurbita pepo cv. Zucchini Elite), and broccoli (Brassica oleracea Botrytis group, L. cv. Green Comet) were used with the double-crop system. The monocrop system was used as a control for the intercrop and double-crop systems. The experiments were conducted on a Flanagan silty clay loam of high fertility. Crop yield, production cost, and economic returns using both intercrop and double-crop systems were compared to those of either crop produced alone. These systems allowed an option of crop production with a potential increase in crop yield and economic returns per unit area using half the amount of land required for either crop grown in monoculture. In addition, the multiple cropping systems used reduced the risk of economic failure during a year of low market demand for either crop grown alone.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Horticulture

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Brown, James Edward

• Agriculture, Agronomy
• Economics, Agricultural

Identifier

(UMI)AAI8324517

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/71772