Microbial–mineral–organic matter framework links environment and soil sulfur cycling

Abstract

Soil sulfur cycling plays a central role in ecosystem functioning and is tightly coupled to carbon–nitrogen–phosphorus–metal cycling. Key transformations occur at interfaces where microbes, minerals, and organic matter interact, yet these processes remain insufficiently resolved across scales and systems. Here, we synthesize evidence from multi-omics, isotopic tracing, and nanoscale spectroscopy and imaging to develop a microbial–mineral–organic matter interaction framework linking redox microdynamics, mineral reactivity, organic matter chemistry, and microbial guilds to sulfur speciation and turnover. We show how anthropogenic disturbance and climate change reshape interface-centered sulfur biogeochemical networks, with implications for nutrient retention, pollutant transport, and greenhouse gas emissions. We further identify major research hotspots, examine boundary conditions, and outline an artificial intelligence–process hybrid strategy for mechanism-based prediction and sustainable soil management under accelerating global change. This framework helps connect interface-scale mechanisms with ecosystem-scale consequences and provides a basis for future cross-system testing.