MAPPING GLOBAL RESEARCH ON SUSTAINABLE COTTON PRODUCTION: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF ORGANIC FARMING, YIELD AND QUALITY, NATURAL FARMING, AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

Abstract

Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is an important fibre crop, and its production increasingly faces challenges associated with climate variability, resource depletion, soil degradation, and environmental impacts of intensive input use. So, sustainable production requires integration of productivity, fibre quality, resource-use efficiency and ecosystem functions. This study mapped research on sustainable cotton production, with emphasis on organic farming, natural farming, yield and fibre quality, and ecosystem services, using bibliometric and science-mapping approaches. Bibliographic records were retrieved from Scopus for 2010-2026 using four thematic searches and analysed using Biblioshiny and Bibliometrix in R. After screening and integration, 989 publications from 302 sources, involving 3,575 authors and 45,915 references, were analysed. Scientific production showed an increasing trend, with a marked increase after 2020 and a peak of 102 publications in 2025. China and the United States were the leading contributors and collaboration hubs. Life-cycle analysis indicated that the field remains in an expansion phase, with a projected peak of approximately 136 publications in 2042.6. Keyword and co occurrence analyses showed that cotton yield, fibre quality, soil organic matter, organic carbon, irrigation, water use efficiency, nutrient management, and soil quality were major research themes. Thematic evolution revealed a shift from conventional field management and yield improvement toward integrated resource management, soil health, quality-oriented production, and climate-responsive practices. The results concluded that sustainable cotton research is becoming multidisciplinary and systems oriented. The future research should integrate organic and natural farming with precision water and nutrient management, biodiversity, ecosystem services, climate resilience, digital technologies, and advanced breeding approaches to develop productive, resource-efficient, and environmentally responsible cotton production systems.