Soil nematodes as bioindicators of agricultural management practices: Insights from bibliometric analysis

Soil nematodes have established themselves as powerful bioindicators for assessing soil health and ecosystem functioning in agricultural systems. Despite extensive research linking nematode communities to agricultural management practices such as tillage, crop rotation, and organic amendment, a global synthesis of research trends is lacking. This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of 2,730 articles published between 1991 and 2024 to identify research hotspots and thematic evolution. Results revealed a steady increase in publications, with a marked statistical inflection in 2009 signaling a shift from exploratory to mature research phases. Organic amendments dominated the literature, accounting for over 60% of studies, likely because they align with multiple sustainability agendas and benefit from long-term trial availability, whereas tillage and crop diversification were less represented. The United States and China were identified as the most productive contributors, with rapidly expanding international collaborations. Co-citation analysis revealed the central role of ecological indices and underscored a sustained research focus on root-knot nematodes ( Meloidogyne spp. ), a prioritization driven by their substantial impact on crop productivity. Emerging research increasingly emphasizes functional and metabolic footprints as integrative measures of soil food web functioning. Overall, substantial progress has been made in developing nematode-based ecological frameworks for soil health assessment. Translating these advances into robust field applications hinges on the enhanced collaboration among stakeholders to standardize methods and integrate nematode with key soil and environmental covariates. • Global analysis of 2,730 studies reveals rapidly expanding research on soil nematodes. • Ecological indices and root-knot nematodes remain the dominant research foci. • Challenges persist in sampling inconsistency and limited linkage to soil properties. • System-level perspectives are transforming nematode-based soil health assessment.