EFFECT OF INOCULATION ON YIELD OF CANNING PEAS IN NEW YORK STATE

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Abstract
Expts. were made on 50 pea fields in New York State during the yrs. 1936-1940, to determine the effect of inoculation on yield. Of these fields, 20 responded to inoculation, giving increases ranging from 63 to 1246 lb. of shelled peas per acre; 22 produced the same yield on the inoculated plot as on the un-inoculated; and 8 yielded less after inoculation. Reductions ranged from 235 to 1222 pounds of peas per acre, and occurred almost always on ground where peas or beans had recently been grown (within 4 yrs.). Conversely, it was found that the increases took place on ground where peas or beans had not been grown recently. Furthermore, the largest increases tended to occur on ground that had not grown any legumes for several yrs. It is believed for reasons set forth elsewhere, that the harmful effect is due to the action of bacteriophage which lyses the nodule bacteria, and which is likely to be present in greater abundance where legumes (and especially peas) have recently been grown. For best results, peas should be grown on land that has not recently grown peas or beans, and the seed should be inoculated. In this way there is the greatest chance to secure the valuable benefits from inoculation with less danger from the undesirable results noted above.

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