Climate Change and Soil Health in Agroecosystems: A Review of Feedback Mechanisms, Vulnerabilities, and Adaptation Strategies

Climate change is increasingly affecting soil health in agroecosystems through changes in temperature, precipitation, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, and the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Soil health, which encompasses physical structure, chemical fertility, biological activity, and the capacity to sustain ecosystem functions, plays a critical role in agricultural productivity, climate regulation, water conservation, and food security. This review examines the interactions between climate change and soil health, emphasizing feedback mechanisms, vulnerabilities across agroecosystems, and adaptation strategies for enhancing agricultural resilience. The review synthesizes established scientific literature on soil organic carbon dynamics, greenhouse gas emissions, soil moisture regulation, erosion, nutrient cycling, microbial communities, and soil biodiversity. The evidence indicates that warming can accelerate soil organic matter decomposition and nutrient mineralization, while droughts and intense rainfall can increase erosion, disrupt microbial processes, and reduce nutrient retention. Conversely, healthy soils with high organic matter content, stable aggregates, diverse microbial communities, and effective water infiltration can contribute to climate mitigation and improve resilience to climatic extremes. However, these benefits depend on soil type, climate, land management, and the availability of water and nutrients. Adaptation approaches, including conservation agriculture, cover cropping, diversified crop rotations, organic amendments, agroforestry, improved nutrient management, and integrated soil and water conservation, can help maintain soil functionality under changing climatic conditions. Their effectiveness varies according to local environmental and socioeconomic circumstances, and some interventions involve trade-offs related to greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and implementation costs. The review concludes that protecting soil health requires integrated, locally appropriate management supported by long-term monitoring, farmer participation, and policies that recognize soils as both vulnerable resources and essential components of climate adaptation and mitigation.