This is particularly true for the production of green peas in the Pacific Northwest. These pests are one reason that yields of green peas have remained the same or slightly declined over the past 20 years. Root diseases alone may reduce yields by 10 to 50 percent. This system incorporates the combined use of pesticides, resistant varieties, biological 'controls and proper soil and plant management to control pests and provide an environment that is minimally stressful to growing plants.
Green peas are an excellent rotational crop with fall grains where rainfall is adequate.
Peas decrease the incidence of diseases in the following cereal crop, supply a portion of the cereal's nitrogen needs and provide better protection against erosion than does summer fallow. However, the risk of low yield often discourages the use of peas into continuous cereal or cereal fallow rotations. Emphasis in this research program is placed on improving growth early in the season. Stresses such as inadequate fertility, high temperature, low moisture or soil compaction during this stage of growth frequently intensify the problems with soilborne root diseases. Stressed plants are more susceptible to disease, and once infected their roots begin to rot and die back, This restricts water and nutrient uptake and can drastically reduce yields, Organisms responsible for these root diseases include species of Pythi um, Fusarium and Rhizoctonia.