Bibliometric Analysis of Monitoring and Mapping of Soil Salinity Using Remote Sensing Approaches: Reports from the Past Three Decades

Soil salinization poses significant challenges to agricultural productivity, food security, ecological balance, and environmental sustainability. Concerning monitoring and mapping soil salinity, Remote Sensing (RS) has emerged as a pivotal approach, offering cost-effective and scalable solutions compared to conventional laboratory methods. This study aims to present a detailed bibliometric analysis of research articles on soil salinity monitoring and mapping using remote sensing technologies published over the past three decades (1988–2023), leveraging the SCOPUS database and tools like VOSviewer. The analysis examines 566 publications to identify trends, advancements, and research gaps, and it reveals an exponential growth in research outputs, with 82% of studies published in the last decade and 60% in the past five years. Key findings include the dominance of geospatial technologies such as optical and radar remote sensing, as well as emerging methodologies like machine learning algorithms (e.g., Random Forest, Support Vector Machines) and hyperspectral imaging. Collaborative research, particularly among international authors, has significantly contributed to the advancement of the field. Geospatial techniques are frequently employed for salinity monitoring, with research hotspots identified in regions like the Yellow River Delta (China), Bangladesh Coastal Zone, Ebinur Lake, Xinjiang, and Aral Sea. China leads in publication count, while countries like Australia and the Netherlands exhibit higher citation impacts. On the other hand, key findings highlight the utility of remote sensing for addressing soil salinity’s spatial and temporal dynamics, revealing significant gaps in underrepresented regions such as sub-Saharan Africa and South America. Future research directions include improving multi-source data integration, exploring advanced algorithms for big data analytics, and addressing the socioeconomic dimensions of soil salinization. This comprehensive analysis provides a roadmap for leveraging remote sensing technologies to mitigate the impacts of soil salinity on sustainable agriculture and environmental resilience.