Soil microbial carbon pump: Mechanism, application & appraisal

Soil carbon (C) transformation and stabilization have received significant interest in recent years due to its potential importance in climate mitigation. Microorganisms are central to biogeochemical processes; however, there remains largely unknown how microbe-mediated processes lead to soil C sequestration. Here, I will present the recently-recognized notion on microbial necromass, a significant source for soil organic matter genesis. I will define two microbial channels that jointly explain soil C dynamics and establish a conceptual framework, consisting of soil “microbial carbon pump” (sMCP), to describe how microbes act as an active player in soil C storage. I will inspire new studies that utilize sMCP as a conceptual guideline for advancing our relevant knowledge.