Biotic and abiotic influences on soil carbon sequestration: mechanisms and future perspectives

In recent years, the continued rise in global greenhouse gas emissions has heightened interest in the role of soil as a natural carbon sink. Forests, farmlands, and wetlands, which together account for the majority of global soil carbon storage, play a crucial role in mitigating the greenhouse effect. This study offers a comprehensive analysis of both biotic factors (e.g., vegetation types, anthropogenic activities, and soil microbial communities contain fungi and bacteria) and abiotic factors (e.g., temperature, humidity, pH, and salinity), while integrating multi-scale perspectives across forest, farmland, and wetland ecosystems. It also considers the impacts of multi-element influences such as metal elements and climatic variables. The main drivers affecting soil carbon sequestration, key emission reduction pathways, and sustainable management measures are systematically reviewed. Furthermore, key research directions are proposed to inform the development of efficient soil carbon management strategies in the future and to support global climate change mitigation efforts.