Soil carbon and nitrogen stocks and fractions for improving soil quality and mitigating climate change

Abstract

Globally, there is an increased global awareness of some environmental issues such as climate change. In this regard, new accessible and reliable data, locally and globally, regarding soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks and their physical and chemical fractions, are needed. These data assist in making suitable decisions towards the mitigation of climate change impacts. Soil plays an important role in the global carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles and both are linked and related not only to climate change mitigation but also sustaining agricultural productivity and improving soil quality. Soil C and N sequestration, using good and novel long-term novel management practices, is one of the most important methods for increasing their stocks and mitigating greenhouse gas emission, from soil to the atmosphere as well for improving soil quality and increase economic crop production. Therefore, the aim of this review is to summarize some basic information about soil C and N stocks and their fractions, especially they are related to climate change mitigation and soil quality.