Water quality regulation is an important ecosystem service function of soil. In this study, the mechanism by which soil regulates water quality was reviewed, and the effects of soil management on water quality were explored. A scientometrics analysis was also conducted to explore the research fields and hotspots of water quality regulation of soil in the past 5 years. This review found that the pollutants entering the soil can be mitigated by precipitation, adsorption and desorption, ion exchange, redox and metabolic decomposition. As an optimal substrate, soil in constructed wetlands has perfect performance in the adsorption and passivation of pollutants such as nitrogen, phosphorus and heavy metals in water, and degradation of pesticides and emerging contaminants. Mangrove wetlands play an important role in coastal zone protection and coastal water quality restoration. However, the excessive application of agricultural chemicals causes soil overload, which leads to the occurrence of agricultural non-point source pollution. Under the dual pressures of climate change and food insecurity in the future, developing environmentally friendly and economically feasible sustainable soil management measures is crucial for maintaining the water purification function of soil by relying on the accurate quantification of soil function based on big data and modelling.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘The role of soils in delivering Nature's Contributions to People’.

水质调节是土壤重要的生态系统服务功能。本研究回顾了土壤调节水质的机制，探讨了土壤管理对水质的影响。还进行了科学计量分析，探索了近5年土壤水质调控的研究领域和热点。本综述发现，进入土壤的污染物可以通过沉淀、吸附和解吸、离子交换、氧化还原和代谢分解来缓解。人工湿地土壤作为最佳基质，在吸附和钝化水中氮、磷、重金属等污染物，降解农药和新出现的污染物等方面具有良好的性能。红树林湿地在海岸带保护和海岸水质恢复中发挥着重要作用。但农用化学品的过量施用造成土壤超负荷，从而导致农业面源污染的发生。在未来气候变化和粮食不安全的双重压力下，依靠基于大数据和建模的土壤功能准确量化，制定环境友好且经济可行的可持续土壤管理措施对于维持土壤的净水功能至关重要。

这篇文章是主题“土壤在自然对人类的贡献中的作用”的一部分。