Addressing Water Scarcity in Agriculture: A Bibliometric Analysis of Hydrogel‐Based Strategies for Drought Resilience and Sustainable Water Management

Abstract

Drought poses a significant threat to agricultural systems worldwide, exacerbating challenges to food security and sustainability. Hydrogels, superabsorbent polymers that can retain substantial amounts of water, have emerged as a promising solution to mitigate the adverse effects of drought. In this integrated bibliometric and narrative review, we map the evolution of hydrogel research for drought stress management between 2001 and 2024 and critically synthesize empirical evidence on crop responses and mechanisms identified through the bibliometric analysis. The analysis reveals a marked increase in research activity since 2016, particularly in the development of biodegradable hydrogels derived from natural polymers such as cellulose, chitosan, and starch, and in the integration of nanotechnology to enhance hydrogel performance under variable environmental conditions. Studies consistently show that hydrogel applications improve soil water retention, reduce irrigation frequency, improve water‐use efficiency, and increase plant biomass and yield under limited water conditions. Research on key crops such as maize, wheat, soybean, tobacco, citrus, tomato, and barley demonstrates significant improvements in plant growth, physiological responses, and crop productivity under drought stress. Hydrogels also mitigate drought‐induced oxidative stress, improve nutrient uptake, and contribute to improved crop resilience in water‐scarce environments. Despite these advances, challenges remain in the standardization of hydrogel formulations, their scalability for large‐scale agricultural deployment, and the assessment of long‐term environmental impacts. The evidence base is predominantly derived from pot experiments, with limited field validation. Further research is needed to develop universally applicable, cost‐effective, and environmentally sustainable hydrogel solutions that can be effectively integrated into climate‐resilient agricultural practices.