A Bibliometric Analysis of Mechanisms and Regulation of Hydrochemistry-Driven Soil Erosion in China

Soil erosion is a critical environmental issue restricting ecological security and agricultural sustainable development in China. Traditional studies have predominantly focused on physical driving factors such as hydraulic and wind erosion, while the regulatory effects of hydrochemistry on soil erosion have long been neglected. To clarify the mechanisms and regulatory processes of hydrochemistry-driven soil erosion in China, this study collected 795 relevant publications from the Web of Science Core Collection spanning from 2000 to 2025. Based on bibliometric methods, visualization software including VOSviewer 1.6.20 and CiteSpace 6.4.R1 were adopted to analyze publication trends, author distributions, research institutions, and keyword co-occurrence characteristics. The results indicated that the number of publications concerning hydrochemistry-driven soil erosion in China has increased year by year since 2000. China ranks first in total publication output, showing a dominant research position in this field. The Chinese Academy of Sciences contributed the largest number of publications among all research institutions. Keyword co-occurrence analysis over the past 25 years demonstrated that soil erosion, runoff, and water erosion serve as the core research hotspots. Further analysis revealed the regulatory mechanisms of key hydrochemical parameters (e.g., pH value, ionic strength, and dissolved organic carbon) throughout erosion processes. In-depth keyword analysis confirmed that current research on hydrochemistry-driven soil erosion in China remains at the preliminary stage, lacking comprehensive exploration of microcosmic mechanisms and systematic regulation strategies. Therefore, intensified research efforts and optimized regulatory frameworks are urgently required in future studies. This study can provide theoretical foundations and technical references for improving the understanding of erosion driving mechanisms and enhancing soil erosion management efficiency across diverse regions of China.