Changes in land use, especially in cropland-use management, induced by human activities is one of the most important factors influencing climate change. In China, facing the huge pressure of dealing with climate change, the research on the relations between cropland-use management and soil carbon (C) sink, and the effects of cropland-use management on soil C sequestration and C emission mitigation is important, aiming at providing a decision-making basis for improvement of soil C sequestration and C emission mitigation in China. Through the literature reviews, this paper analyzes the impact of cropland-use management on soil C sequestration and C emission mitigation in China. As literature reviewed, agriculture is not only a main source of C emission, but also a sink of C sequestration. Through improvement of cropland-use management (such as increasing straw return into the soil, organic fertilizer application, and no-till/reduced tillage practices, etc.), there has shown an increasing trend in soil C sink in cropland since the last 20 years. Based on the estimation of soil C sequestration in cropland in China, especially with the recommended management practices, especially in the future 50 years, the potential for soil C sequestration in cropland of China is estimated about 87-393 TgC.a -1, thus offsetting about 11%-52% of the total industry C emissions, in which improved cropland-use management (including straw return, organic fertilizer application, and no-till/reduced tillage) could share about 30%-36% of C sequestration. This shows that cropland-use management in China could play an important role in soil C sequestration and C emission mitigation.
