Global research trends on the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the soil carbon cycle: A bibliometric analysis

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play an indispensable role in terrestrial ecosystem soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics. Over the past 22 years, numerous researchers have studied the role of AMF on soil the carbon cycle, thereby producing a wealth of knowledge. However, a comprehensive summary and analysis of the basic characteristics, research outputs, and knowledge base is still lacking. To explore the authors, countries, institutions, and keywords involved in the study of AMF effects on the soil carbon cycle, publications between 2001 and 2022 were identified and extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection databases using specific keywords, and a bibliometric analysis conducted on this data using CiteSpace. The number of publications has gradually increased over time, with a notable acceleration from 2017 onward. Most of the authors did not cooperate on a regular basis, and a stable cooperative group had not yet been formed among the core authors. The Chinese Academy of Sciences produced the largest number of publications among research institutions. Specifically, China published the largest number of articles in terms of national contributions, but had less influence in collaborative networks. The most desirable research topics mainly included nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients, root colonization, diversity, organic matter and organic carbon, plant growth, and microbial community. In more recent years, research seemed to focus more on AMF-mediated carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, nutrient exchange, alterations in microbial community structure, advancements in research techniques and methods, and in-depth studies into related mechanisms. This study serves as a valuable reference for future researchers interested in the effects of AMF on the soil carbon cycle, and provides guidelines for future innovative research.