Investigating the dual impacts of flooding and nitrogen management on soil biological health indicators across the growing season

Flooding reduces crop yield and disrupts soil nitrogen (N) cycling; however, flooding and N fertilization effects on soil health are understudied. This study investigates how short-term flooding and N fertilization treatments influence soil health across the corn growing season. A split-plot randomized complete block design (main factor: flooding, sub-factor: N fertilization) assessed soil organic carbon (C) (POXC) and soil organic N (ACE protein). Soil samples were collected pre-flood, post-flood, and pre-harvest. POXC variability depended on fertilization; ACE protein increased significantly, regardless of fertilization. Findings suggest that flooding disrupts plant-microbe interactions, and ACE protein may be a stable soil health metric.