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SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article

Front. Microbiol.
Sec. Microbiological Chemistry and Geomicrobiology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1546852
This article is part of the Research Topic Mineral Solubilizing Microorganisms (MSM) and Their Applications in Nutrient Bioavailability, Bioweathering and Bioremediation, Vol III View all 10 articles

Phosphate-Solubilizing Microorganisms for Soil Health and Ecosystem Sustainability: A Forty-Year Scientometric Analysis (1984-2024)

Provisionally accepted
Yiming Lei Yiming Lei 1*Yuhan Kuai Yuhan Kuai 2*Mingyu Guo Mingyu Guo 1*Huan Zhang Huan Zhang 3*Yuan Yuan Yuan Yuan 4*Hualong Hong Hualong Hong 1*
  • 1 Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China
  • 2 Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China
  • 3 Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
  • 4 Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms (PSM) play a crucial role in promoting crop growth by enhancing phosphorus supply and reducing phosphorus loss in soil. However, a comprehensive bibliometric overview of the research landscape on PSM in agricultural applications has been lacking. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis to explore global research trends, key contributors, and collaborative networks in the application of PSM in ecological restoration, providing valuable insights for future research. A total of 1,662 documents from the Web of Science Core Collection, spanning from 1984 to 2024, were extracted and analyzed using Bibliometrix and CiteSpace software. The findings reveal a period of rapid growth in this field since 2018. Initially, research focused on microbial soil nutrients, such as phosphate rock and Azospirillum brasilense. Current research hotspots have shifted towards topics like drought and salt stress, as well as productivity, reflecting an increasing emphasis on mitigating the impacts of global warming and environmental changes. China and India lead in research output, contributing 36.67% of the total articles. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research published the highest number of articles. Future research on PSM should emphasize their role in enhancing nutrient uptake, improving soil health, and mitigating environmental stresses, supporting sustainable agriculture and ecological restoration. This bibliometric analysis of 1,162 articles by 7,454 authors from 101 countries highlights critical advances at the intersection of soil microbiology, sustainable land management, and climate change adaptation. These findings provide a foundation for addressing global challenges like soil degradation, nutrient cycling, and food security, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals.

    Keywords: Phosphorus availability, ecological restoration, Crop growth, Global research trends, sustainable agriculture, Microbial Soil Nutrients

    Received: 17 Dec 2024; Accepted: 03 Feb 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Lei, Kuai, Guo, Zhang, Yuan and Hong. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Yiming Lei, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, Fujian Province, China
    Yuhan Kuai, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu Province, China
    Mingyu Guo, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, Fujian Province, China
    Huan Zhang, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei Province, China
    Yuan Yuan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
    Hualong Hong, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, Fujian Province, China

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