Soil microbes are central to carbon and nutrient cycling; however, the influence of tillage practices on plant–soil microbe interactions, particularly their contribution to carbon stabilization under increasing atmospheric CO₂, remains insufficiently understood. This systematic review evaluated 238 studies published between 2010 and 2025 from Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), and Google Scholar, of which 113 met the inclusion criteria related to carbon dynamics, agro-climatic conditions, and soil–microbial processes. Evidence indicates that conventional plowing (CP) disrupts microbial structure, habitat, and function, resulting in lower soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and elevated CO₂ emissions. Conversely, conservation tillage promotes rhizodeposition, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) accumulation, and enhanced nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability, thereby increasing SOC sequestration and reducing CO₂ emissions. Overall, insights from this study will enhance our understanding of beneficial microbes that enhance carbon stabilization and root exudate compounds, which trigger specifically needed nutrients in the rhizosphere.

Climate change significantly threatens maize (Zea mays L.) production through rising temperatures, erratic precipitation, and extreme weather events, thereby jeopardising global food security. This review synthesises current knowledge on the impacts of climate change, abiotic stresses, crop simulation models, and adaptation strategies for maize. A bibliometric analysis of 485 articles published between 2015 and 2025 and indexed in the Web of Science was conducted using VOSviewer. The results showed a significant increase in publications (Mann–Kendall test, p = 0.0001; R² = 0.8207), with dominant research themes shifting toward climate-smart agriculture and sustainable intensification. Heat stress, drought, and nutrient deficiencies were identified as the primary abiotic constraints. DSSAT-CERES-Maize and APSIM emerged as the most widely used models for assessing climate impacts and the effectiveness of adaptation strategies. Effective adaptation measures include the use of resilient varieties, optimised water management, conservation agriculture, and diversified cropping systems. Future research should focus on integrated adaptation approaches, improved model validation, and long-term field studies to enhance maize resilience. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the research landscape and highlights critical pathways for ensuring sustainable maize production under changing climate scenarios.

Soil moisture plays a critical role in soil organic carbon (SOC) storage and stabilisation and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions amid climatic variability and in different agroecosystems. However, the mechanisms that regulate organic matter decomposition, microbial activities, and root respiration with direct impacts on carbon (C) cycling remain incompletely synthesised. This review synthesises evidence showing how soil moisture regulates SOC stabilisation and CO₂ fluxes, particulate organic C (POC) and mineral-associated organic C (MAOC) response and the role of rare microbes under drought. Findings from 87 peer-reviewed studies from Web of Science and Scopus between 2007 and 2026 confirm that soil moisture is a key regulator of C circulation. Additionally, moderate soil moisture of a 60–70% water-holding capacity (WHC) enhances SOC stocks and CO₂ efflux peaks due to increased microbial activities and respiration. Extreme drying and rewetting cycles in rainfed soils trigger drastic CO₂ emission pulses. However, under drought conditions, rare microbes can be utilised (for rhizosphere modification) to improve microbial biomass C (MBC), necromass C and MAOC formation, thereby enhancing sustainable agricultural production. This study confirms that CO₂ efflux and SOC stabilisation primarily rely on soil moisture dynamics. Therefore, sustainable moisture conservation practices improve moisture retention and SOC stabilisation and reduce CO₂ emissions, offering a viable pathway for mitigating the impacts of climate change footprints.