The article "Quantitative assessment of microbial necromass contribution to soil organic matter" by Chao Liang, Wulf Amelung, Johannes Lehmann, and Matthias Kästner addresses the significant role of microbial necromass in soil organic matter (SOM) and its implications for carbon sequestration and climate change. The authors highlight the challenges in quantifying microbial necromass due to its overlapping molecular signature with non-microbial organic carbon. They use a comprehensive analysis of existing biomarker amino sugar data and novel ecological systems approaches to demonstrate strategies for quantifying the contribution of microbe-derived carbon to topsoil organic carbon in global temperate agricultural, grassland, and forest ecosystems. The study shows that microbial necromass can make up more than half of soil organic carbon, emphasizing the need for next-generation field management practices that promote microbial biomass formation and necromass preservation to maintain healthy soils, ecosystems, and climate. The findings have important implications for improving climate and carbon models and developing effective land use policies.The article "Quantitative assessment of microbial necromass contribution to soil organic matter" by Chao Liang, Wulf Amelung, Johannes Lehmann, and Matthias Kästner addresses the significant role of microbial necromass in soil organic matter (SOM) and its implications for carbon sequestration and climate change. The authors highlight the challenges in quantifying microbial necromass due to its overlapping molecular signature with non-microbial organic carbon. They use a comprehensive analysis of existing biomarker amino sugar data and novel ecological systems approaches to demonstrate strategies for quantifying the contribution of microbe-derived carbon to topsoil organic carbon in global temperate agricultural, grassland, and forest ecosystems. The study shows that microbial necromass can make up more than half of soil organic carbon, emphasizing the need for next-generation field management practices that promote microbial biomass formation and necromass preservation to maintain healthy soils, ecosystems, and climate. The findings have important implications for improving climate and carbon models and developing effective land use policies.