Complex drivers led to low carbon sequestration efficiency in the croplands of the eastern Loess Plateau

This study analyzed the spatiotemporal variability of carbon input and CSE from 1983 to 2023 across three agroecologically distinct counties in Shanxi province: Yingxian (north), Shouyang (central), and Yongji (south). Using geostatistical methods, Random Forest, and path analysis, we identified key drivers of SOC accumulation and CSE under varying climates and amendment regimes.