Soil Testing

Among legume crops, forage peas and field beans show the most symptoms of legume fatigue.

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Among legume crops, forage peas and field beans show the most symptoms of legume fatigue. This is due to infestation with Didymella, Fusarium, Aphanomyces and other root rot 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.

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Testing Soil for Legume Fatigue349.79 KB

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