In recent decades, accelerated soil acidification has caused serious harm to agricultural production and ecological system in China. The inhibition of soil acidification is of great significance for improving crop yield and quality and ecological protection. Soil carbon cycle plays an important role in the global carbon cycle, is closely related to global climate change, and to soil acidification and its inhibition. Although the relationship between carbon cycle and soil acidification as well as its inhibition have been investigated extensively, systematic and comprehensive summaries in these aspects are lacking. In this paper, the roles of carbon cycle processes such as soil respiration, root exudates, accumulation and transformation of soil carbonates and organic matter in soil acidification was reviewed in detail. The inhibition of organic materials such as animal manure and chitosan on soil acidification and the amelioration of soil acidity were summarized, and the inhibition of soil organic matter on aluminum mobilization in soil acidification was discussed. This review can provide reference for the further study of soil acidification mechanisms and provide theoretical basis for the research and development of soil acidity amelioration by organic materials.