Vegetable Crops Acreage Comparisons Under Resource Alternatives

Abstract

ABSTRACT A simple linear programming model was formulated to examine the impact of resource alternatives on vegetable cropping patterns. The planning objective was to maximize the total vegetable crop net returns. Florida conditions were used to illustrate techniques. The 1973-74 season was chosen as a base period. The reductions in available resources were simulated by the parametric linear programming technique, and their effects on the changes of cropping patterns were obtained. The effects of curtailed resource supplies on crop acreage were varied. Crops which required large amounts of energy were sensitive to reductions in energy. When subject to water reduction only, the response showed a relatively balanced cropping pattern. Crop acreages generally declined when both energy and water levels were reduced. Crops with medium resource requirements were not as adversely affected by reduced inputs; crops with low resource inputs showed marked increases in acreage when resources were limited.