A bibliometric analysis on soil microbial diversity and processes: global trends and methodologies.
2025
JESUS, E. da C. | COELHO, M. R. R. | CHAER, G. M. | MENDES, I. de C. | OLIVEIRA, M. I. L. de | MALAQUIAS, J. V. | SILVA, O. D. D. da | OLIVEIRA, I. V. D. A. | EUGENIO, N. R. | BROWN, G. G. | E. da C. JESUS; M. R. R. COELHO; G. M. CHAER; I. de C. MENDES; M. I. L. de OLIVEIRA; J. V. MALAQUIAS; O. D. D. da SILVA; I. von der A. OLIVEIRA; N. R. EUGENIO; G. G. BROWN.
Soil is Earth’s most biodiverse habitat, harboring a multitude of microbial species. Several efforts have been conducted to survey the diversity of these microbial communities in the last decades. Still, a comprehensive overview of the literature highlighting significant topics and key players was needed. We carried out a bibliometric analysis of the literature on soil microorganisms and processes between 2011 and 2022, aiming to identify research trends, methodologies, and gaps in knowledge on soil microorganisms. A database was developed in PostgreSQL and connected with the R statistical program, enabling literature review data analysis through 227 SQL customized queries. The data retrieved from the database was analyzed using R and Excel. Bacteria and fungi were the most studied among soil microorganisms, accounting for 78% and 90% of the articles and patents in the databases, respectively. China and the USA were the leading nations studying soil microbial diversity and processes. These countries were also at the forefront of applying advanced molecular methods (e.g., omics). Most other top publishers were from developed countries, especially Europe, or large developing economies such as India and Brazil. Other developing nations, such as Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Mexico, Pakistan, and the Philippines, were among the top publishers in agriculture-related topics. Altogether, the results show that groups other than bacteria and fungi are understudied, that a few countries dominate the research output on soil microbes, and that countries from Latin America, Africa, and Asia are underrepresented, highlighting the need to invest in soil microbiology science in these regions.
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