Soil moisture controls over carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions: a review

This literature review synthesizes the role of soil moisture in regulating carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions (CS-GHG). Soil moisture directly affects photosynthesis, respiration, microbial activity, and soil organic matter dynamics, with optimal levels enhancing carbon storage while extremes, such as drought and flooding, disrupt these processes. A quantitative analysis is provided on the effects of soil moisture on CS-GHG across various ecosystems and climatic conditions, highlighting a “Peak and Decline” pattern for CO₂ emissions at 40% water-filled pore space (WFPS), while CH₄ and N₂O emissions peak at higher levels (60–80% and around 80% WFPS, respectively). The review also examines…

• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy

  Awards: AC05-00OR22725, 76RL01830, AC05-76RL01830, DE-AC05-76RL01830, DE-AC05, 00OR22725
• B
  Battelle

  Awards: AC05-76RL01830, DE-AC05, DE-AC05-76RL01830, DE-AC05-00OR22725
• DF
  Directorate for Biological Sciences
• OO
  Office of Science

  Awards: DE-AC05-00OR22725, DE-AC05-76RL01830, AC05-00OR22725
• BA
  Biological and Environmental Research

  Awards: DE-AC05-00OR22725, AC05-76RL01830, 00OR22725, 76RL01830, DE-AC05-76RL01830
• LD
  Laboratory Directed Research and Development

  Awards: 76RL01830, DE-AC05-00OR22725, DE-AC05-76RL01830
• OR
  Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  Award: AC05-00OR22725
• PN
  Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

  Awards: DE-AC05-76RL01830, 76RL01830, DE-AC05-00OR22725