Soil carbon is an important component of the terrestrial carbon pool, and carbon dynamic balance of input and output, mineralization and immobilization are critical factors in achieving carbon neutrality. Rhizosphere priming effect (RPE) refers to the fact that the presence of living plants significantly affects the carbon dynamics in the plant-soil system, with minor changes affecting soil-atmosphere carbon dynamics. Therefore, the RPE of crops is a vital factor in regulating carbon dynamics and carbon neutrality in farming land. Through a literature review, this paper first summarized the current research status of the effects of various biotic and abiotic factors on the RPE of crops during agricultural practices. Second, this paper summarized the hotspots and challenges in the current studies on the RPE of crops and analyzed their significance to the regulation of soil carbon emissions, elucidating that the existing studies were generally case-specific and lack of universal patterns. Finally, potential strategies for soil carbon regulation and management in agroecosystems were proposed based on the existing studies. This study pointed out the direction for the purposeful regulation of the RPE of crops in agricultural practices and the possible schemes in the field, planting mode and regional scale. This paper can provide theoretical references for eco-agricultural practices to help achieve carbon neutrality as a win-win solution while guaranteeing food security.