Do soil microbes drive the trade-off between C sequestration and non-CO2 GHG emissions in EU agricultural soils? A Systematic Review

Abstract

The role of soil microbial communities in soil organic matter (OM) decomposition, transformation, and the global nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) cycles has been widely investigated. However, a comprehensive understanding of how specific agricultural practices and OM inputs shape microbial-driven processes across different European pedoclimatic conditions is still lacking, particularly regarding their effectiveness in mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This systematic review synthesizes current knowledge on the biotic mechanisms underlying soil C sequestration and GHG reduction, emphasizing key microbial processes influenced by land management practices. A rigorous selection was applied, resulting in 16 eligible articles that addressed the targeted outcomes: soil microorganism biodiversity, including microbiome composition and other common Biodiversity Indexes, C sequestration and non-CO2 GHG emissions (namely N2O and CH4 emissions), and N leaching. The review highlights that, despite some variations across studies, the application of OM enhances soil microbial biomass (MB) and activity, boosts soil organic carbon (SOC), and potentially reduces emissions. Notably, plant richness and diversity emerged as critical factors in reducing N2O emissions and promoting carbon storage. However, the lack of methodological standardization across studies hinders meaningful comparison of outcomes—a key challenge identified in this review. The analysis reveals that studies examining the simultaneous effects of agricultural management practices and OM inputs on soil microorganisms, non-CO2 GHG emissions, and SOC are scarce. Standardized studies across Europe’s diverse pedoclimatic regions would be valuable for assessing the benefits of OM inputs in agricultural soils. This would enable the identification of region-specific solutions that enhance soil health, prevent degradation, and support sustainable and productive farming systems.