Abstract: Analyzing the development trend of black soil research could provide information and reference for the protection of black soil and food security in our country. Based on the bibliometrics analysis and scientific knowledge map, the SCI papers in the field of black soil research from 1990 to 2020 were statistically calculated, to discuss the current status, research focus and development trend of this field. The results showed that the number of published papers in the field of black soil research had increased year by year. Among them, the number of papers and H index in China ranked first, and the papers published in USA and Germany were cited more frequently than other countries, reflecting their higher level. Chinese research institutions headed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences were the important participants and cooperative network centers in this research field. There was a large gap in the level of journals, and the overall quality of papers needed to be improved. The field of black soil research covered a wide range of disciplines, in which soil science and environment science accounted for the highest proportion, and the trend of interdisciplinary was obvious. Black soil research had experienced increasing food production from the very beginning, and had developed into scientific research on the theme of improving soil organic matter, microbial community structure, and soil erosion. In the future, it should continue to strengthen interdisciplinary integration and pay attention to soil quality and health to implement black soil protection.