Abstract

Agricultural soils represent one of the largest terrestrial carbon reservoirs, containing approximately 1,500 Gt of organic carbon globally. Enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) storage through strategic management practices offers significant potential for climate change mitigation while simultaneously improving soil health and agricultural productivity. This comprehensive review examines various strategies for increasing carbon storage in agricultural soils, including cover cropping, reduced tillage, organic amendments, agroforestry, and crop rotation systems. Through systematic analysis of current research and field trials, we evaluated the effectiveness of different carbon sequestration approaches across diverse agricultural systems. Results indicate that integrated management strategies combining multiple practices can achieve SOC increases of 0.2-0.8 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, with conservation tillage and cover cropping showing the most consistent benefits across different climatic conditions. The implementation of these strategies requires careful consideration of local soil conditions, climate, and economic factors. Our findings suggest that widespread adoption of carbon-enhancing agricultural practices could contribute significantly to global climate mitigation goals while providing co-benefits for sustainable agriculture.