Soils are an important component of the global carbon cycle and serve as a large reservoir of terrestrial carbon. The amount of carbon in any soil is a function of the soil forming factors including: climate, relief, organisms, parent material and time. In general, human activities have decreased the amount of carbon held in affected soils. This paper examines soil management practices and their effects on greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration. Included is an analysis of how management practices affect the physical and chemical environment of soil and how these in turn affect greenhouse gas emissions and the soil carbon sequestration potential.