Soil nitrogen and phosphorus were greater in overlapping areas of fields in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario

Abstract: A total of 344 soil cores were taken in annually cropped fields of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario from 2011 to 2013 in areas where the field shapes, or obstacles within fields, required the driving pattern of farm operations to overlap. Soil nitrate-N concentrations in overlapping areas were 60% greater, soil Olsen-P concentrations were 23% greater, and pH was 0.5 units greater at 0–15 cm depth compared with non-overlapping areas, suggesting smaller nutrient use efficiency and potential for greater nutrient loss.