Advances in Soil Health Indicator Studies in Sugarcane Systems Over the Last 25 Years: A Bibliometric Review

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) plays a strategic role in Brazil’s energy and agricultural sectors, stimulating research on soil health in sugarcane-growing areas. In this context, this study aimed to identify trends, advances, and gaps in the scientific literature on soil health indicators in Brazilian sugarcane fields over the past 25 years through a bibliometric review. A systematic search of peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2025 was conducted in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, encompassing soil carbon, chemical, physical, and biological indicators. Study selection followed the PRISMA protocol, and the articles were analyzed in terms of temporal publication trends, keyword networks, and types of indicators assessed. A significant increase in scientific output was observed after 2010, associated with changes in crop management, such as the intensification of mechanized harvesting, the elimination of straw burning, and the strengthening of environmental and bioenergy policies. Publications on soil carbon were limited until 2005 but increased by approximately 65% between 2015 and 2021, accounting for nearly 60% of citations. Soil organic matter (SOM) and soil organic carbon (SOC) emerged as integrative indicators, frequently linking soil fertility, physical structure, and biological activity. Chemical indicators represented approximately 71% of total publications and 88% of total citations. Most physical studies (87%) were published between 2011 and 2019, with a citation peak in 2011 (45%). Soil biological studies were mainly concentrated between 2011 and 2021, comprising 81% of publications and 78% of citations. These patterns highlight the need for more integrated approaches to soil attribute assessment.