Trends in Soil Microbial Inoculants Research: A Science Mapping Approach to Unravel Strengths and Weaknesses of Their Application

Microbial inoculants are widely accepted as potential alternatives or complements to chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture. However, there remains a lack of knowledge regarding their application effects under field conditions. Thus, quantitative description the scientific literature related soil microbial was conducted, adopting science mapping approach observe trends, strengths, weaknesses during period 2000–2020 providing useful insights for future research. Overall, study retrieved 682 publications with an increasing number 2015–2020 period, confirming China, India, U.S. leading countries Over last decade, research emphasized use consortia rather than single strains, attention paid sustainability environmental purposes by means multidisciplinary approaches. Among emerging topics, terms such “persistence” indicate actual need detecting monitoring persistence fate inoculants. On other hand, low occurrence failed studies well formulation processes may have limited overall comprehension real date. In conclusion, successful agriculture requires filling fundamental gaps that govern dynamics interactions its native microbiota.