A Bibliometric Analysis of Sustainable Livestock Systems: Soil and Plant Health Perspectives

Abstract

This Bibliometric analysis evaluates research on sustainable livestock systems, emphasizing plant and soil health, and examining the major trends in publications and partnerships.  Analyzing 104 published articles from 2013 to 2024, the study reveals a significant increase in publication trends since 2016, peaking in 2021. An average of 5.8 authors per article reflects a strong inclination toward collaborative research—significantly higher than the 1.4–1.6 average in social sciences and humanities, and more aligned with biomedical and environmental sciences, where five or more authors are common. Despite this, co-authorship networks remain fragmented, lacking interdisciplinary collaborations essential for holistic solutions. The United States leads as a central research hub, maintaining collaborations with China and Brazil, though geographic and language clustering affect partnerships. Most studies were published by prestigious journals such as Science of the Total Environment (7 articles), Journal of Environmental Management (5), and Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment (9), with the majority available as open access. The study underscores the crucial role of open access in disseminating knowledge and fostering sustainable agricultural practices worldwide. It highlights the importance of incentivizing interdisciplinary research and fostering international collaboration. Establishing platforms for knowledge sharing, funding applied research, implementing supportive policy frameworks, investing in stakeholder training, and creating monitoring systems are essential actions. These will ensure effective and adaptive initiatives to bridge collaboration gaps and address challenges in sustainable livestock systems. These efforts contribute to resilient livestock systems, climate mitigation, biodiversity enhancement, and foster global collaboration —core elements of SDGs 2, 13, 15, and 17.