Plant biostimulants in sustainable crop production: A review

Abstract

Plant biostimulants have shown significant potential as environmentally benign agricultural inputs that can improve soil health, crop yield, nutrient us efficiency and resistance to abiotic stress conditions under changing climatic conditions. With a focus on mechanisms of action, abiotic stress tolerance and economic potential, this study provides a thorough literature review and bibliometric analysis of studies on plant biostimulants in sustainable agricultural production. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) framework was used to ensure a transparent and systematic selection process. The Scopus database was the only source of scientific papers that were retrieved between 2015 and 2026. To identify relevant research related to plant biostimulants, sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, stress management and commercialization factors, a thorough keyword-based search method was used. About 1341 peer-reviewed journal and review papers that satisfied the inclusion criteria were chosen for in-depth analysis out of the 2593 publications that were found in the initial search. According to the bibliometric study, the most common research topics in the subject include soil health, microbial interactions, biofertilisers, abiotic stress tolerance and sustainable agriculture. Strong worldwide scientific cooperation was shown by co-authorship and bibliometric coupling analyses, especially amongst nations like China, Italy, Spain and India. The results also show that increasing plant physiological and biochemical responses under environmental stress circumstances is greatly aided by microbial inoculants, seaweed extracts, humic compounds and protein hydrolysates. Broader adoption is still delayed by issues with product standardization, field-level uniformity, regulatory frameworks and commercialisation despite significant research progress. Overall, plant biostimulants hold significant promise for promoting environmentally conscious agricultural production methods, climate resilience and sustainable agriculture.