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<p>Intensive agriculture, deforestation and climate change have caused soil degradation, making environmental degradation a silent yet critical threat in tropical and semi-arid regions. In this context, biochar produced by the pyrolysis of biomass under oxygen-limited conditions has gained significant prominence in soil science over the past decade. This study aimed to analyze global research trends, scientific collaboration networks, and key thematic focuses related to the use of biochar for soil quality improvement in tropical and semi-arid regions, covering the period from 2009 to 2024, including scientific articles and reviews based on a Web of Science search using the terms “biochar for soil quality improvement in tropical and semi-arid regions,” resulting in 666 articles. After applying eligibility criteria and screening procedures, 505 records were retained for bibliometric analysis. The data were analyzed using the Bibliometrix (RStudio) and VOSviewer software, applying techniques such as co-authorship analysis, co-citation, and keyword co-occurrence. Furthermore, the results show a continuous growth in publications, particularly after 2014, with China leading the way (183 articles and 7257 citations) in a global collaboration network, followed by the United States and Pakistan. Although these countries are not entirely characterized by tropical or semi-arid climates, the retrieved studies specifically focused on dryland, tropical, and semi-arid agroecosystems, according to the environmental descriptors adopted in the bibliometric search strategy. The collaboration networks show strong internationalization, with China acting as the main scientific hub. The thematic analysis revealed three main research areas: carbon sequestration, agricultural productivity, and soil remediation, as well as emerging trends related to bioremediation and mitigation of abiotic stresses. Keyword co-occurrence and thematic evolution analyses revealed increasing scientific attention toward biochar applications associated with water retention, nutrient cycling, and soil sustainability in vulnerable agroecosystems. It is concluded that biochar has high potential as a sustainable technology; however, its advancement depends on interdisciplinary approaches to consolidate biochar as a technology in sustainable agriculture and on strengthening international collaborations in the development of applied studies under real field conditions, especially in vulnerable environments.</p><p><b>Highlights</b></p><p><UnorderedList Mark="Bullet"> <ItemContent> <p>Scientific output on biochar has shown continuous and significant growth from 2009 to 2024, with China leading globally in terms of the number of articles (183 publications) and citations.</p> </ItemContent> <ItemContent> <p>Studies focus on three central themes: carbon sequestration, agricultural productivity (yield), and soil remediation (including heavy metals).</p> </ItemContent> <ItemContent> <p>Keyword co-occurrence and thematic analyses revealed growing scientific interest in biochar applications related to water retention, nutrient cycling, and soil sustainability.</p> </ItemContent> <ItemContent> <p>Large-scale adoption faces the challenge of an urgent lack of long-term data on the material’s persistence and the need for methodological standardization.</p> </ItemContent> </UnorderedList></p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

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Trends and hotspots in biochar research for soil quality improvement in tropical and semi-arid regions based on bibliometric analysis

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月7日

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  • Ana Beatriz Alves,
  • Ana Luiza Veras de Souza,
  • Ingrid Carla Ferreira de Lima,
  • Laíze Jorge da Costa,
  • Leonardo Cordeiro da Silva,
  • Marcondes Ferreira Costa Filho,
  • Wellyda Keorle Barros de Lavôr,
  • Darliane Cristina Soares de Souza,
  • Eulene Francisco da Silva,
  • Daniel Valadão Silva,
  • Rafael Oliveira Batista,
  • Frederico Ribeiro do Carmo,
  • Luiz Fernando de Sousa Antunes

摘要

Intensive agriculture, deforestation and climate change have caused soil degradation, making environmental degradation a silent yet critical threat in tropical and semi-arid regions. In this context, biochar produced by the pyrolysis of biomass under oxygen-limited conditions has gained significant prominence in soil science over the past decade. This study aimed to analyze global research trends, scientific collaboration networks, and key thematic focuses related to the use of biochar for soil quality improvement in tropical and semi-arid regions, covering the period from 2009 to 2024, including scientific articles and reviews based on a Web of Science search using the terms “biochar for soil quality improvement in tropical and semi-arid regions,” resulting in 666 articles. After applying eligibility criteria and screening procedures, 505 records were retained for bibliometric analysis. The data were analyzed using the Bibliometrix (RStudio) and VOSviewer software, applying techniques such as co-authorship analysis, co-citation, and keyword co-occurrence. Furthermore, the results show a continuous growth in publications, particularly after 2014, with China leading the way (183 articles and 7257 citations) in a global collaboration network, followed by the United States and Pakistan. Although these countries are not entirely characterized by tropical or semi-arid climates, the retrieved studies specifically focused on dryland, tropical, and semi-arid agroecosystems, according to the environmental descriptors adopted in the bibliometric search strategy. The collaboration networks show strong internationalization, with China acting as the main scientific hub. The thematic analysis revealed three main research areas: carbon sequestration, agricultural productivity, and soil remediation, as well as emerging trends related to bioremediation and mitigation of abiotic stresses. Keyword co-occurrence and thematic evolution analyses revealed increasing scientific attention toward biochar applications associated with water retention, nutrient cycling, and soil sustainability in vulnerable agroecosystems. It is concluded that biochar has high potential as a sustainable technology; however, its advancement depends on interdisciplinary approaches to consolidate biochar as a technology in sustainable agriculture and on strengthening international collaborations in the development of applied studies under real field conditions, especially in vulnerable environments.

Highlights

Scientific output on biochar has shown continuous and significant growth from 2009 to 2024, with China leading globally in terms of the number of articles (183 publications) and citations.

Studies focus on three central themes: carbon sequestration, agricultural productivity (yield), and soil remediation (including heavy metals).

Keyword co-occurrence and thematic analyses revealed growing scientific interest in biochar applications related to water retention, nutrient cycling, and soil sustainability.

Large-scale adoption faces the challenge of an urgent lack of long-term data on the material’s persistence and the need for methodological standardization.

Graphical Abstract