Soil Carbon Loss Driven by Soil Erosion: Progress, Challenges, and Future Directions

Soil-erosion-driven loss of soil organic carbon is a critical component of the global carbon cycle and climate change research. To systematically review the intellectual evolution and research frontiers in this field, this study employed bibliometric and knowledge mapping methods. It analyzed 8,814 relevant publications (8,707 from Web of Science and 107 from China National Knowledge Infrastructure) spanning January 1993 to July 2025. Results indicate that international research has shifted from early descriptions of erosion processes and carbon mobilization. Current focuses include precise quantification of carbon source or sink effects within the erosion–deposition continuum. Other priorities involve exploring multifactor coupling mechanisms and developing integrated modeling approaches. In contrast, domestic research in China has concentrated on empirical monitoring in representative regions. It also emphasizes evaluating the carbon sequestration effects of soil and water conservation measures. The innovation of this review lies in its comparative analysis, which systematically elucidates differences in scale emphasis and methodological pathways between international and domestic studies. An integrated analytical framework of “process–mechanism–effect–regulation” is proposed. This framework highlights future research priorities, including reducing uncertainties in multiscale estimation of erosion-driven carbon fluxes. It also emphasizes elucidating coupling mechanisms between biogeochemical processes and physical transport. Additionally, it focuses on assessing the carbon sequestration and emission reduction potential of nature-based solutions. This review aims to provide systematic scientific insights for advancing terrestrial carbon cycle theory and supporting regional ecological management.