Advances in understanding Carbon storage and stabilization in temperate agricultural soils

Understanding how carbon is stored and stabilized in temperate agricultural soils is central to addressing one of the defining environmental challenges of our time—climate change. In this study, we sought to bridge quantitative bibliometric insights with a qualitative synthesis of the mechanisms, management practices, and models governing soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics. By systematically analyzing 481 peer-reviewed publications indexed in Scopus and Web of Science, we traced the evolution of global research activity, collaboration networks, and conceptual developments related to carbon sequestration in temperate agroecosystems.The results reveal a clear shift from process-oriented studies to integrative frameworks that link soil biophysics with management and policy. Evidence consistently shows that practices such as reduced tillage, residue retention, cover cropping, compost and biochar amendments, and diversified crop rotations enhance SOC accumulation—though outcomes remain context-dependent, varying with soil texture, climate, and land-use history. Emerging tools such as machine learning, remote sensing, and process-based modeling offer promising avenues for more accurate, scalable monitoring of SOC stocks, yet challenges persist in harmonizing methods and linking micro-scale processes to global assessments.This review not only summarizes current scientific understanding but also reflects a broader commitment to reimagining agricultural soils as living systems capable of both sustaining productivity and buffering the atmosphere. Temperate agricultural soils, when managed wisely, represent one of our most accessible natural climate solutions. The findings underscore that the path forward lies in integrated, evidence-based soil management—anchored equally in science, stewardship, and the recognition of soil as a vital ally in the pursuit of climate resilience and sustainable food systems.