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eISSN: 2083-5906
ISSN: 1230-1485
ISSN: 1230-1485
ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Biodegradable Plastics in Soil: A Scientometric
Analysis of Their Status, Evolution,
and Future Research Directions
1
College of Eco-Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
2
Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Analysis and Test in Qinghai‒Tibet Plateau, College of Ecological
Environment and Resources, Qinghai Nationalities University, Xining 810007, China
3
Qinghai Research and Design Institute of Environmental Sciences, Xining 810007, China
Submission date: 2025-09-06
Final revision date: 2025-11-27
Acceptance date: 2026-01-02
Online publication date: 2026-03-04
Corresponding author
Meiling Jing
Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Analysis and Test in Qinghai‒Tibet Plateau, College of Ecological Environment and Resources, Qinghai Nationalities University, No. 3 Bayi Middle Road, Chengdong District, 810017, Xining, China
Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Analysis and Test in Qinghai‒Tibet Plateau, College of Ecological Environment and Resources, Qinghai Nationalities University, No. 3 Bayi Middle Road, Chengdong District, 810017, Xining, China
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
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.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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