Cunninghamia lanceolata Resource Distribution Research, Hotspots and Trends via Bibliometric Analysis

TL;DR

This study maps Chinese fir research trends using bibliometric analysis to identify global and Chinese research hotspots and directions.

Contribution

A comprehensive bibliometric analysis of Chinese fir research from 1942-2024, revealing divergent domestic and international research foci and converging eco-environmental trends.

Findings

Chinese research focuses on seedling cultivation and plantation management, while international studies emphasize ecological functions and biomass.

Global research converges on climate change and nitrogen deposition impacts on Chinese fir growth and function.

Domestic and international research follows two-stage growth patterns, with Chinese studies covering broader application areas.

Abstract

Chinese fir [Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.] is a fast-growing species widely utilized in construction, industrial raw materials. Owing to its broad application scope, research on Chinese fir is fragmented across multiple disciplines, making it difficult to grasp the overall research context and trends. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we retrieved articles related to Chinese fir published between 1942 and 2024 from Chinese databases (i.e., CNKI, Wanfang Data, and VIP Chinese Journal Database) and the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC). After removing duplicate and irrelevant records, a total of 7174 valid records were retained, including 5862 from Chinese databases and 1312 from WOSCC. The PRISMA-screened literature was imported into CiteSpace V.6.2.R4 for bibliometric analysis. Through keyword clustering, burst detection, and timeline mapping, we focused on analyzing the domestic resource distribution, research hotspots, and evolutionary trends of Chinese fir research. The results showed that research publications on Chinese fir have increased year by year, and international research started earlier and is more in-depth, while Chinese research covers a wider scope. Both follow two stages (germination and growth). Chinese research focuses on basic application areas such as seedling cultivation and plantation management; international research emphasizes ecological functions and biomass development. Global research exhibits convergence in the field of eco-environmental interactions; specifically, both domestic and international studies investigate the impacts of climate change (e.g., drought and global warming) and nitrogen deposition on the growth and functional evolution of Chinese fir. This study provides references for researchers, forestry policymakers, and planters.

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