Abstract

Soil organic matter (SOM) plays a pivotal role in developing climate-resilient agricultural systems by enhancing soil structure, water retention capacity, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration. This comprehensive review examines the multifaceted contributions of SOM to agricultural sustainability under changing climatic conditions. Through analysis of recent literature and field studies, we demonstrate that soils with higher organic matter content exhibit superior drought tolerance, improved water infiltration rates, and enhanced microbial diversity. Our findings indicate that increasing SOM by 1% can improve water holding capacity by 20,000 liters per hectare and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15-25%. The integration of cover crops, crop rotation, reduced tillage, and organic amendments represents effective strategies for SOM enhancement. Climate-resilient agriculture systems with optimized SOM levels show 30-40% better performance under extreme weather conditions compared to conventional systems. This review emphasizes the critical importance of SOM management in achieving sustainable food security while mitigating climate change impacts.