Bibliometric analysis of water resource quality conservation in agroecological structures

The article conducts a bibliometric and systematic analysis of the scientific literature on water resource quality conservation in agroecological structures, with an emphasis on agroforestry systems. Drawing on the Web of Science database and applying graph theory, the VOSviewer and Tree of Science tools, and certain guidelines of the PRISMA protocol, the authors identified and analyzed 61 references published between 2014 and 2023. The documents were organized using the tree metaphor (roots or classics, trunk or structural, and branches-leaves or recent), and the analysis examined output by country, authors, journals, and collaboration networks, highlighting the United States and China as the leading countries and Chen Hung-Chih as the most cited author. The results show sustained growth in research over the past decade and confirm that agroforestry systems are fundamental for conserving and improving water quality, with the capacity to attenuate nutrient leaching into groundwater by up to 97.7% (nitrogen) and 90% (phosphorus), and to retain up to 100% of pollutants in surface runoff. The authors emphasize co-benefits in erosion control, infiltration, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and climate resilience, as well as links to fish farming and integrated agroecological systems. They conclude that knowledge gaps remain regarding long-term impacts and the biofiltration of emerging pollutants, and recommend strengthening interdisciplinary research and public policies—including payment for environmental services programs—to encourage the adoption of these systems.