Testing soil for legume fatigue

Among legume crops, forage peas and field beans show the most symptoms of legume fatigue. This is due to infestation with Mycosphaerella, Phoma, Fusarium, Aphanomyces and other soil-borne pathogens as a result of over-cultivation of peas or other legumes such as lupines, field beans, vetches, red clover or lucerne. A heavy infestation may lead to a total loss of the peas or beans.

The method in this practice abstract offers reference points regarding the soil contamination with the above-mentioned pathogens, and thus indication for a possibly required cultivation break. Refraining from cultivating on contaminated soils helps avoid high yield loss due to legume fatigue.