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.