TITLE:
Impact of Climate Change on Organic Carbon Stock in Tropical Soils in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review
AUTHORS:
Anani Ogou, Christopher Mubeteneh Tankou, Honoré Beyegue-Djonko, Asafor Henry Chotangui, Georges Martial Ndzana, Etienne Mboua, Eric Bertrand Kouam, Komi Agboka, Komi Kouma Mokpokpo Fiaboe
KEYWORDS:
Soil Organic Carbon Variations, Climate Change, Tropical Soils, Sub-Saharan Africa, Soils and Carbon-Smart Sustainable Management Strategies, Agroecology
JOURNAL NAME:
Low Carbon Economy,
Vol.17 No.2,
May
25,
2026
ABSTRACT: Climate change is a major factor in the alteration of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in tropical ecosystems, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where ecological and socio-economic vulnerabilities are marked. This systematic review analyzes the impact of climate variations on SOC dynamics in tropical soils, with a specific focus on Cameroon. The approach is based on the PRISMA protocol and covers the period August-December 2025. A total of 413 scientific documents from reliable scientific databases, namely Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Wiley Online Library, SpringerLink, Taylor & Francis Online, African Journals Online, and Google Scholar, supplemented by institutional and technical reports from databases such as FAO, UNEP, IUCN, and IPCC, from 2015-2025, were analyzed. After eliminating duplications and selecting according to strict eligibility criteria, 45 studies were considered, of which 27 included quantitative data. The results show an intensification of climate disturbances reported in 89.4% of the studies, including erratic rainfall (82.9%), rising temperatures (78.2%), and increased frequency of droughts and floods (65.3%). These factors interact with land degradation (74.7%), land pressure (71.8%), and biodiversity loss (59.4%), resulting in an estimated average decrease in SOC of 0.21% ± 0.07% per additional degree Celsius. Losses are greater in surface horizons (0 - 30 cm) and acidic ferralsol soils. However, agroforestry systems and long fallow period of at least 10 years of the agroecosystems increase significantly SOC stocks by 18% to 25% compared to monoculture. This synthesis highlights the need to strengthen agroecological strategies, regional soil carbon monitoring, the use of remote sensing and spatial models, in order to support sustainable carbon sequestration and the resilience of agroecosystems in Sub-Saharan African.