Conservation tillage practices like no-tillage and crop straw returning can improve soil health by enhancing carbon storage and fertility. Soil microorganisms play a crucial role in this process. Research has shown that these practices impact soil microbial biomass, diversity, and composition, as well as carbon metabolism. It was found that microbial-derived carbon also contributes significantly to soil carbon storage, not just plant-derived carbon. This shift in understanding soil organic matter formation and stability has important implications for future studies on soil microbial responses and their influence on soil carbon dynamics in agricultural systems.