Mitigating Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Agricultural Soils with Biochar: A Scientometric and Visual Analysis

The application of biochar in agricultural ecosystems has been demonstrated as an effective strategy for addressing climate change. This study conducted bibliometric analysis via CiteSpace to evaluate 989 publications (2010–2024) on biochar’s role in mitigating agricultural soil N<sub>2</su...

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Main Authors: Jingyi Ren, Yixuan Wang, Mengqi Luo, Yuxiang Zhuang, Jixiong Wang, Sen Chai, Jun Liu, Ziqi Zhang, Yakun Li, Peng Chen, Qi Wei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Agronomy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/5/1115
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author Jingyi Ren
Yixuan Wang
Mengqi Luo
Yuxiang Zhuang
Jixiong Wang
Sen Chai
Jun Liu
Ziqi Zhang
Yakun Li
Peng Chen
Qi Wei
author_facet Jingyi Ren
Yixuan Wang
Mengqi Luo
Yuxiang Zhuang
Jixiong Wang
Sen Chai
Jun Liu
Ziqi Zhang
Yakun Li
Peng Chen
Qi Wei
author_sort Jingyi Ren
collection DOAJ
description The application of biochar in agricultural ecosystems has been demonstrated as an effective strategy for addressing climate change. This study conducted bibliometric analysis via CiteSpace to evaluate 989 publications (2010–2024) on biochar’s role in mitigating agricultural soil N<sub>2</sub>O emissions. Key findings include (i) rapid growth in publications and citations, with <i>Science of the Total Environment</i> leading in output and <i>Soil Biology and Biochemistry</i> in citation impact; (ii) China and the Chinese Academy of Sciences dominate national and institutional contributions, and author networks exhibit multi-tiered collaboration structures with limited overlap between high-productivity and high-impact researchers; (iii) research hotspots prioritize global warming potential, carbon footprint, and biochar’s chemistry property, mineralization, and pyrolysis processes; (iv) and the field evolved through three phases, as follows: initial emphasis on biochar–fertilizer synergies (2010–2015), followed by microbial mechanisms (2016–2020), and recent focus on soil carbon dynamics and multi-greenhouse gas interactions (2021–2024). Future research should address feedstock–pyrolysis coupling mechanisms, soil-specific application thresholds, and biochar–water–fertilizer interfacial interactions to optimize emission reduction, enhance nitrogen efficiency, and support China’s “Dual Carbon” goals. The study has important guiding significance for promoting the theoretical framework of sustainable agriculture and climate-resilient soil management.
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spelling doaj-art-0a8cc8dd7f5b4fedbf38698dc3dcbebc2025-08-20T03:47:48ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-04-01155111510.3390/agronomy15051115Mitigating Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Agricultural Soils with Biochar: A Scientometric and Visual AnalysisJingyi Ren0Yixuan Wang1Mengqi Luo2Yuxiang Zhuang3Jixiong Wang4Sen Chai5Jun Liu6Ziqi Zhang7Yakun Li8Peng Chen9Qi Wei10College of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaCollege of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaCollege of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaCollege of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaCollege of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaCollege of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaCollege of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaCollege of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaCollege of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaCollege of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaCollege of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, ChinaThe application of biochar in agricultural ecosystems has been demonstrated as an effective strategy for addressing climate change. This study conducted bibliometric analysis via CiteSpace to evaluate 989 publications (2010–2024) on biochar’s role in mitigating agricultural soil N<sub>2</sub>O emissions. Key findings include (i) rapid growth in publications and citations, with <i>Science of the Total Environment</i> leading in output and <i>Soil Biology and Biochemistry</i> in citation impact; (ii) China and the Chinese Academy of Sciences dominate national and institutional contributions, and author networks exhibit multi-tiered collaboration structures with limited overlap between high-productivity and high-impact researchers; (iii) research hotspots prioritize global warming potential, carbon footprint, and biochar’s chemistry property, mineralization, and pyrolysis processes; (iv) and the field evolved through three phases, as follows: initial emphasis on biochar–fertilizer synergies (2010–2015), followed by microbial mechanisms (2016–2020), and recent focus on soil carbon dynamics and multi-greenhouse gas interactions (2021–2024). Future research should address feedstock–pyrolysis coupling mechanisms, soil-specific application thresholds, and biochar–water–fertilizer interfacial interactions to optimize emission reduction, enhance nitrogen efficiency, and support China’s “Dual Carbon” goals. The study has important guiding significance for promoting the theoretical framework of sustainable agriculture and climate-resilient soil management.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/5/1115bibliometric analysisCiteSpaceN<sub>2</sub>O emissionbiocharagricultural soils
spellingShingle Jingyi Ren
Yixuan Wang
Mengqi Luo
Yuxiang Zhuang
Jixiong Wang
Sen Chai
Jun Liu
Ziqi Zhang
Yakun Li
Peng Chen
Qi Wei
Mitigating Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Agricultural Soils with Biochar: A Scientometric and Visual Analysis
Agronomy
bibliometric analysis
CiteSpace
N<sub>2</sub>O emission
biochar
agricultural soils
title Mitigating Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Agricultural Soils with Biochar: A Scientometric and Visual Analysis
title_full Mitigating Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Agricultural Soils with Biochar: A Scientometric and Visual Analysis
title_fullStr Mitigating Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Agricultural Soils with Biochar: A Scientometric and Visual Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Mitigating Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Agricultural Soils with Biochar: A Scientometric and Visual Analysis
title_short Mitigating Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Agricultural Soils with Biochar: A Scientometric and Visual Analysis
title_sort mitigating nitrous oxide emissions from agricultural soils with biochar a scientometric and visual analysis
topic bibliometric analysis
CiteSpace
N<sub>2</sub>O emission
biochar
agricultural soils
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/5/1115
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