The use of biodegradable plastics (BDPs) is increasingly recognized as a promising approach for mitigating plastic pollution in agricultural soils, but the environmental impacts of these materials in soil systems remain unclear. In recent years, publications in this field have multiplied, producing a large but disconnected body of knowledge. Such dispersion makes it difficult to form an integrated view of research progress. To address this gap, we conducted a scientometric analysis of 519 Englishlanguage publications (2005-2024) indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection. We mapped the structures of studies on BDPs in soil systems at institutional and regional scales. The results show that existing research is focused on three key pillars: materials science, agricultural application, and environmental behavior. Research has shifted from performance and degradation studies to critical evaluations of long-term ecological risks. This study presents potential emerging frontiers, such as interactions between BDPs and soil, innovative functional materials, and socioeconomic considerations. Theoretically, the research structure and its evolution are elucidated. Practically, this study provides researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders with useful information to inform decisionmaking and promote sustainable agricultural practices.