Global trends and research hotspots on the improvement of saline soil: Insights from bibliometric analysis

Soil salinization significantly challenges the sustainable development of irrigated agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions globally, thereby positioning the amelioration of saline soil at the forefront of academic research. To understand the current state, research hotspots, and emerging trends in the field of soil salinization improvement, this study analyzed 2561 publications published between 1990 and 2024 from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database. Utilizing bibliometric and visualization software such as Bibliometrix, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace, this research conducted visual analyses of annual publication output, citation frequency, major contributors (countries/regions, institutions, and authors), influential journals, and keywords. The results indicated a gradual increase in research output, which can be divided into three stages: the preliminary exploratory period, the slow development period, and the rapid growth period. The disciplines of “Environmental Sciences”, “Soil Science”, and “Plant Sciences” dominated this research field, with multidisciplinary intersections significantly enhancing the depth and breadth of the studies conducted. China has emerged as the leading contributor of research publications, occupying a prominent role in the international cooperation network. The co-occurrence and burst analysis of keywords in the literature has elucidated that the primary focus of current research on saline soil improvement includes physical, chemical, and biological strategies. The integration of various chemical amendments, the development of salt-tolerant crop varieties, and the application of innovative nanomaterials are anticipated to emerge as focal points in future research dedicated to the improvement of soil salinization.