Carbon saturation deficit and litter quality drive the stabilization of litter-derived C in mineral-associated organic matter in long-term no-till soil

•13C isotope tracer and physical fractionation were applied in a field experiment.•Carbon saturation deficit and litter quality drive the C stabilization in no-till Acrisol.•Stabilization of C from high-quality litter is more efficient only in soils with high C saturation deficit.•The C accumulation in labile fractions increases when silt plus clay was close to saturation.