<p>Soil organic carbon (SOC) plays a vital role in mitigating climate change. While fertilization can substantially influence SOC, its impact on SOC storage in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM)-dominated forests remains uncertain. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a meta-analysis of 631 observations from 28 published studies to examine SOC responses to fertilization in bamboo forests dominated by AM fungi. Contrary to numerous previous meta-analyses, our results revealed that fertilization significantly decreased SOC by 4.46%. Specifically, inorganic nitrogen (N) fertilizers negatively affected SOC by disrupting the soil N:P:K stoichiometric balance, which can contribute to soil degradation and potentially impair the role of AM fungi in regulating soil carbon dynamics. In contrast, organic and compound N fertilizers showed no significant effect on SOC due to external nutrient inputs and additional C offsetting these negative impacts. The effects of fertilization on SOC varied depending on the level and duration of fertilization, as well as soil depth. Low-level and long-term fertilization resulted in significant SOC losses, particularly in the subsoil. Furthermore, our correlation analysis indicated that MAP, soil pH, MBC, NH₄⁺-N, and AK were key drivers of SOC responses to fertilization. Our findings offer a new perspective that contrasts with previous studies, showing that N fertilization significantly reduces SOC in bamboo forests. This underscores the need for future investigation into the mechanisms by which AM fungi regulate SOC dynamics. Consequently, we recommend using organic or compound N fertilizers to maintain SOC storage and contribute to climate change mitigation efforts.</p>