Global Research and Emerging Trend of Superabsorbent Hydrogel Applied to Agriculture Based on Visual Analysis

Drought and soil degradation pose significant challenges to global food security and agricultural growth. Superabsorbent hydrogels, with their hydrophilic three-dimensional network structures, offer a promising solution to improve soil structure and water retention, thus mitigating the detrimental effects of drought on crop yields. Recently, superabsorbent hydrogels for agriculture (SHFA) has garnered considerable attention in the academic community. This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 949 SHFA-related publications from 1989 to 2023, utilizing tools such as CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Scimago Graphica. Network performance analyses, encompassing countries, institutions, and authors, reveal that PR China, India, and the USA are the leading contributors, with frequent collaborative exchanges. Temporal trends in SHFA research were mapped, and 15 keyword clusters were identified through co-citation network analysis, yielding notable modularity and silhouette scores (Q = 0.8173; S = 0.8957). Early studies predominantly focused on chemical modifications to optimize material properties, with a significant increase in publications from 2011 onward. Recent years have witnessed a shift toward agricultural applications, as evidenced by the emergence of keywords like “nitrogen fertilizer,” “fabrication,” “carboxymethyl cellulose,” and “water use efficiency.” The growing focus on water environmental protection has spurred the development of bio-based hydrogels, incorporating materials such as “chitosan” and “cellulose.” Moving forward, key challenges in SHFA research include lowering production costs and improving environmental sustainability. These insights offer crucial guidance for funding bodies and research teams, facilitating efficient resource use and achieving sustainable development.