Editorial Policies
Journal Information
Contents
- Editorial Policies
- Open Access Policy
- Copyright Policy
- CC BY License
- Editorial Freedom
- Peer Review Policy
- Peer Reviewers Policy
- Peer Reviewers
- Authorship Policy
- AI and AI-Assisted
- Conflicts of Interest
- Editors, Board Members, Guest Editors, and Editorial Staff
- Research Ethics
- Registration of Experimental Studies
- Conflict of Interest
- Data and Materials Availability Policy
- References and Citation Formatting Policy
- Misconduct Policy
Editorial Policies
Agriculture Reviews: An International Journal (ISSN: 3050-7863) is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and rigor in scholarly publishing. The journal strictly follows the guidelines and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) as well as internationally recognized best practices to ensure ethical and responsible publication in the field of agricultural research.
Our editorial policies are regularly reviewed and updated to stay aligned with global standards in agriculture research publishing and evolving ethical and scientific guidelines.
Open Access Policy
Agriculture Reviews: An International Journal (ISSN: 3050-7863) is dedicated to the principle that high-quality agricultural research should be freely accessible to all. In line with this commitment, the journal operates under a fully open access publishing model, promoting widespread dissemination of knowledge.
All articles are made freely and permanently available online immediately upon publication, without subscription fees, registration requirements, or access charges. This approach ensures that researchers, educators, policymakers, practitioners, and the wider global community can benefit from the latest advancements in agriculture, enabling informed decision-making, innovation, and sustainable development in the field.
Copyright Policy
Authors retain the copyright and full publishing rights for their work submitted to Agriculture Reviews: An International Journal. By submitting to the journal, authors agree to make their work freely available for use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided proper credit is given to the authors and the original source.
A copyright statement will appear on all published articles in HTML, PDF, and XML formats. Authors grant the journal the right of first publication by signing a License to Publish agreement prior to formal publication.
All manuscripts must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere. If any copyrighted materials (e.g., figures, tables, images) are included, authors are responsible for obtaining the necessary permissions and providing appropriate acknowledgments.
CC BY License
All articles in Agriculture Reviews: An International Journal are published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) License. This open access license ensures the free and permanent availability of agricultural research, promoting knowledge sharing and broad academic exchange in the field.
Under this license, users are free to:
Share – copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format.
Adapt – remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, including commercial use.
Conditions of Use:
Attribution – Proper credit must be given to the original authors and source, a link to the license must be provided, and any changes made must be indicated.
No Additional Restrictions – Users may not apply legal or technological measures that restrict others from exercising the rights granted under this license.
For more details, visit: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Example Copyright Line:
© The Author(s) 2025. Published by Agriculture Reviews: An International Journal. This article is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Editorial Freedom
Agriculture Reviews: An International Journal upholds the principle of editorial independence to ensure credibility, fairness, and transparency in agricultural research publishing. The Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board have full authority over editorial content and the timing of publication.
All editorial decisions—including article review, selection, revision, and acceptance—are made solely on the basis of:
The scientific quality of the work
The originality of the research
Its relevance and contribution to the field of agricultural science and sustainable development
The publisher does not interfere with editorial decisions, and no commercial or external influence affects the peer review or publication process. This guarantees fairness, transparency, and integrity in the dissemination of agricultural knowledge.
Key Editorial Policies & Reference Links
Publication Ethics – Follows international standards of ethical publishing.
🔗 Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
Plagiarism Policy – Strict zero-tolerance approach for plagiarism in agricultural research.
🔗 IEEE Plagiarism Policy
Authorship & Contributions – Clear criteria for authorship and contributorship.
🔗 COPE Guidance
Conflict of Interest – Authors, editors, and reviewers must disclose any conflicts.
🔗 COPE Guidance
Peer Review Policy – Double-blind peer review based on ethical guidelines.
🔗 COPE Peer Review Guidelines
Copyright & Licensing – Published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) License.
🔗 CC BY License
Open Access Policy – Fully open access, aligned with DOAJ best practices.
🔗 DOAJ Guide
Archiving & Preservation – Long-term digital preservation through:
🔗 Portico | 🔗 CLOCKSS
Retraction & Corrections – Committed to COPE retraction and correction guidelines.
🔗 COPE Retraction Guidelines
Peer Review Policy
Peer Review Model
Agriculture Reviews: An International Journal follows a single-blind peer review model: reviewers remain anonymous to authors, while authors’ identities are visible to reviewers.
All submitted manuscripts (except invited Editorials) undergo a rigorous review to evaluate their:
Originality and novelty of agricultural research
Scientific validity and soundness of methodology
Relevance and significance to agricultural science and sustainable development
Clarity, organization, and overall contribution to the field
Peer Reviewers Policy
Selection of Reviewers
Appropriate reviewers are carefully selected based on the following criteria:
Independent from the authors and their institutions
Expertise in the same or closely related area of agricultural research
Strong publication record in relevant agricultural or sustainability fields
Ability to deliver a timely and informed review
Author-Suggested Reviewers
Authors may suggest potential reviewers with suitable expertise, but the journal reserves the right to make the final decision. Suggested reviewers must:
Have a recent publication record in the relevant agricultural research area
Not have co-authored with any of the manuscript’s authors in the recent past
Not share a current or recent institutional affiliation with the authors
Not be current or recent collaborators of the authors
Not have close personal relationships with the authors
Not have any financial or professional conflict of interest related to the work
Authors should provide each suggested reviewer’s name, email, institution, research area, and ORCID (if available).
Responsibilities of Reviewers
Reviewers are expected to:
Declare any conflicts of interest before accepting a review
Respect the confidentiality of the peer review process
Destroy all manuscript files after completing the review
Provide objective, evidence-based, and constructive feedback
Avoid bias based on nationality, gender, religion, politics, or personal factors
Report suspected research misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, duplicate submission, fabricated data)
Avoid recommending unnecessary citations to their own work
Submit reviews on time, or request an extension if needed
Roles of Participants in Peer Review
Managing Editor – Screens submissions for scope, formatting, and plagiarism (using tools such as iThenticate), identifies suitable reviewers, and manages communication between authors, reviewers, and editors.
Academic Editor – Oversees the review process, evaluates reviewer reports, and makes the final decision (accept, revise, or reject). Usually the Editor-in-Chief, but may be delegated to an Editorial Board member, Guest Editor, or subject expert. The Academic Editor’s name will appear on the final published article.
🔗 iThenticate Plagiarism Screening Tool
Peer Reviewers
Selection of Reviewers
Reviewers are carefully chosen to ensure fairness and expertise in evaluating agricultural research. Appropriate reviewers are selected if:
They are independent from the authors and their institutions
They have expertise in the same or a closely related area of the manuscript
They have recent publications in the relevant agricultural field and can provide an informed evaluation
They are able to complete reviews within the required timeframe
Author-Suggested Reviewers
Authors may recommend potential reviewers with suitable expertise, but the journal reserves the right to decide whether to invite them. Suggested reviewers must:
Have a recent publication record in the relevant agricultural research area
Not have co-authored or submitted a paper with the authors in the recent past
Not share a current or recent institutional affiliation with the authors
Not be a current or recent collaborator of the authors
Not have a close personal or financial relationship with the authors
Not have any conflicts of interest regarding the manuscript
Authors should provide the reviewer’s name, email address, institution, research area, and ORCID (if available).
Responsibilities of Reviewers
Reviewers are expected to:
Declare any conflicts of interest before accepting a review
Maintain the confidentiality of the peer review process
Dispose of manuscript files after completing the review
Provide objective, constructive, and unbiased feedback
Report any suspected misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, duplicate submission, data fabrication)
Avoid requesting unnecessary citations to their own work
Submit timely reviews or request an extension when needed
Roles in Peer Review
Managing Editor – Screens submissions for scope, formatting, and plagiarism (using tools such as iThenticate), selects reviewers, and manages communications between authors, reviewers, and editors
Academic Editor – Oversees the review process, evaluates reviewer reports, and makes the final decision (accept, revise, or reject). Usually the Editor-in-Chief, but may also be an Editorial Board member, Guest Editor, or subject expert. The Academic Editor’s name is published alongside the article upon acceptance
Authorship Policy
Authorship Criteria
Agriculture Reviews: An International Journal follows authorship principles recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and international best practices. To qualify as an author, individuals must:
Make significant contributions to the concept, design, execution, or analysis of the agricultural research study
Participate in drafting or critically revising the manuscript
Approve the final version of the manuscript prior to submission
Agree to take responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the work
Corresponding Author
In multi-authored papers, one author must act as the Corresponding Author, responsible for:
Managing all communication with the journal
Ensuring all authors meet the authorship criteria
Handling conflict of interest disclosures, acknowledgments, and ethical compliance
Responding to queries after publication
Equal / Dual Authorship
Dual first or corresponding authorship is permitted if clearly indicated in the Author Contributions section.
Group Authorship
For large collaborative agricultural projects, group authorship is allowed. All listed members must meet authorship criteria and be accountable for the work. Group names may also be included if contributors are specifically identified.
Authorship Disputes
Authorship must be agreed upon before submission. Any disputes should be resolved by the authors’ institutions following COPE guidance. Editors will not intervene in authorship disputes.
Authorship Changes
Requests for addition, removal, or rearrangement of authors must be submitted before acceptance, with written consent from all authors, including the author being added or removed.
Author Contributions (CRediT Taxonomy)
Authors should describe contributions using the CRediT Taxonomy, e.g., Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Writing – Original Draft, Supervision, Funding Acquisition, Field Work, Data Collection.
ORCID
Authors are encouraged to provide their ORCID iD for proper identification and linking of research outputs.
Acknowledgments
Individuals who contributed to the study but do not meet authorship criteria (e.g., technical assistance, field support, data management) should be acknowledged with their specific role.
Use of AI and AI-Assisted Technologies
AI tools cannot be credited as authors. Authors may use AI tools only for language editing or formatting, not for generating scientific content, data, or conclusions. Failure to disclose AI use may be treated as research misconduct
AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in Agricultural Research Writing
Authorship and Accountability
AI tools or software cannot be listed as authors or co-authors. Authorship in agricultural research requires human responsibility, accountability, and the ability to explain, interpret, and defend the work—roles that AI cannot fulfill.
Permitted Use of AI Tools
Authors may use AI, machine learning, or similar technologies only for language and presentation purposes, such as:
Correcting grammar, spelling, and syntax
Enhancing readability and clarity of text
Formatting tables, figures, or references
AI tools must not be used to:
Generate original agricultural research ideas or hypotheses
Design or conduct experiments, including field or lab trials
Analyze or interpret agricultural, environmental, or crop-related data
Draw scientific conclusions or recommendations
The responsibility for all research content, analysis, and conclusions rests entirely with the human authors.
Disclosure of AI Use
If AI-assisted tools are employed, authors must include a disclosure statement in the Declarations section of the manuscript. For example:
“During the preparation of this work, the authors used [name of AI tool/service] for [purpose, e.g., grammar checking]. The authors reviewed, edited, and approved the content and take full responsibility for the final version of the manuscript.”
Use of basic tools for spelling, grammar, or reference formatting does not require disclosure.
Misconduct and Ethical Compliance
Failure to disclose the use of AI tools may be considered research or publication misconduct. Any such cases will be addressed according to the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
⚠️ AI Use Policy (Agriculture Journal Context):
Agriculture Reviews: An International Journal does not permit AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Grammarly, QuillBot, GitHub Copilot) to be listed as authors. These tools may only be used to enhance language quality and presentation, and full responsibility for the originality, integrity, and scientific accuracy of agricultural research findings remains with the human authors.
Conflicts of Interest (COI) Policy
Definition
A conflict of interest in agricultural research publishing occurs when an individual’s objectivity, judgment, or integrity regarding a manuscript may be influenced by secondary interests such as financial, institutional, academic, or personal considerations. Conflicts can be actual, potential, or perceived, and full disclosure is required to ensure fairness, transparency, and credibility in the review and publication process.
Examples include:
Financial interests: employment, consultancy, stock ownership, patents, honoraria, or financial ties to agricultural industries, agribusiness companies, or funding bodies.
Academic or professional relationships: recent collaborations, institutional affiliations, or direct competition in the same research area.
Personal factors: close friendships, rivalries, or strong ideological, policy-related, or intellectual positions affecting research outcomes.
Authors
All authors must include a Conflict of Interest Statement at the end of their manuscript.
If no conflicts exist, the statement should read:
“The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to this work.”
The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all co-authors provide complete and accurate disclosures.
Reviewers
Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts, including recent collaborations, institutional ties, or financial interests.
If a conflict exists, reviewers should either decline the review or notify the editors, who will determine whether the review can proceed impartially.
Editors, Editorial Board Members, and Staff
Editors, board members, guest editors, and staff must declare any conflicts related to manuscripts they handle.
If a conflict is present, the editor must recuse themselves from all review and decision-making responsibilities.
Manuscripts submitted by editorial board members or guest editors will be managed by independent editors to maintain impartiality.
Funding Disclosure
Authors must clearly identify all funding sources that supported the research, including the names of agencies and relevant grant numbers, under the Funding section of the manuscript.
Authors should also specify the role of the funding body, if any, in study design, data collection, analysis, manuscript preparation, or the decision to publish.
Editors, Board Members, Guest Editors, and Editorial Staff
Editors, board members, guest editors, and other editorial staff must disclose any potential conflicts of interest (📄 Conflict of Interest Checklist – Download). If an editor’s financial, institutional, academic, or personal interests could compromise—or appear to compromise—their impartiality, they must notify the editorial office and recuse themselves from handling the manuscript.
In such cases, the Editor-in-Chief will assign the manuscript to another qualified editor. To ensure fairness and transparency, manuscripts submitted by editorial board members or guest editors are always managed independently by other editors, so that the submitting editor has no involvement in the peer review or final decision-making process.
Research Ethics
Agriculture Reviews: An International Journal is committed to the highest standards of ethical practice, research integrity, and transparency in agricultural research. Authors must ensure that their work complies with institutional, national, and international ethical guidelines relevant to agricultural studies.
Human Participants and Community-Based Research
For studies involving human participants, surveys, or community engagement (e.g., farmer interviews, local agricultural practices, or participatory field trials):
Informed consent must be obtained from all participants
Ethical approval from a recognized committee or institution must be documented
A statement of consent and ethics approval should be included in the manuscript
For sensitive data (e.g., personal information, photographs, interviews), explicit consent for publication must be secured
Use of Animals, Crops, and Biodiversity in Research
If the study involves animals, livestock, crops, or biodiversity assessments:
Authors must follow international standards for animal welfare, crop trials, and ecological research
Necessary approvals from national or institutional Animal Ethics Committees or relevant regulatory authorities must be obtained
Research must avoid practices that cause unnecessary harm to animals, crops, or ecosystems
Agricultural Safety and Sustainability Standards
Authors must ensure that their research:
Promotes sustainability and minimizes negative environmental or agronomic impacts
Adheres to regulations for handling hazardous substances, fertilizers, pesticides, or genetically modified crops
Reports data honestly and transparently, without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate manipulation
Ensures transparency in fieldwork, laboratory methods, and data analysis
Ethical Responsibility to Agriculture and Environment
Research published in this journal should align with the broader goals of sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and community welfare. Studies must respect ecological balance, promote environmentally responsible practices, and support the rights and well-being of farming communities.
Registration of Experimental Studies
Definition of Experimental Studies
Agriculture Reviews: An International Journal emphasizes transparency, reproducibility, and ethical responsibility in agricultural research. Experimental studies are structured investigations designed to test agricultural interventions, crop or livestock systems, management practices, or technological innovations to evaluate their performance, safety, ecological impact, or effectiveness. These studies may include laboratory, greenhouse, field, or community-based trials.
Examples of Agricultural Experimental Studies:
Crop management or soil fertility trials
Integrated pest and disease management experiments
Evaluation of new irrigation, fertilization, or sustainable farming techniques
Livestock nutrition, breeding, or welfare studies
Agroforestry, biodiversity, or ecosystem restoration experiments
Community-based interventions for sustainable agricultural practices
Where applicable, authors should provide details of study registration, ethical approval, or compliance with relevant agricultural and institutional standards when reporting experimental research.
Agricultural Research Ethics and Compliance Policies
Experimental Studies and Field Trials
All experiments, field trials, and agricultural interventions must comply with accepted agronomic and sustainability standards.
Authors must clearly describe the objectives, methodology, and environmental or ecological considerations of their research.
Field studies should avoid practices causing irreversible harm to crops, livestock, or ecosystems.
Ethical Approval for Human Participation
Studies involving farmers, laborers, or other human participants (e.g., surveys, participatory trials, or community engagement) must obtain approval from an appropriate ethics committee.
Informed consent must be obtained and documented in the manuscript.
Safety and Environmental Compliance
Research must ensure the safety of humans, animals, crops, and the environment.
Experiments involving hazardous chemicals, pesticides, GM crops, or pollutants must follow national and international safety standards.
An environmental or ecological impact assessment should be included where relevant.
Data Transparency and Availability
Authors are encouraged to deposit datasets, codes, or supplementary materials in trusted public repositories (e.g., Zenodo, Figshare, Dryad).
A Data Availability Statement must be included, specifying how and where data can be accessed.
Conflict of Interest
Authors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal conflicts of interest.
If no conflicts exist, the statement should read:
“The authors declare no conflict of interest.”
Intellectual Property and Traditional Knowledge
Research based on traditional or indigenous agricultural knowledge must acknowledge and respect the communities involved, following principles of benefit-sharing.
Authors must disclose any patents or proprietary restrictions associated with their work.
Replication and Verification
Methods should be reported in sufficient detail to allow independent replication and verification.
Limitations, including ecological or agronomic uncertainties, should be acknowledged.
Compliance with Publication Ethics
The journal follows COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines.
Plagiarism, data fabrication, duplicate submissions, or unethical research practices will not be tolerated.
All manuscripts are screened for originality using plagiarism detection tools such as iThenticate.
Confidentiality
Editors, reviewers, and authors must maintain strict confidentiality regarding all aspects of the editorial and peer review process for submitted agricultural research manuscripts. All correspondence and materials exchanged during review are considered confidential and must not be shared outside the editorial process.
Reviewer Confidentiality
Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential intellectual property.
The content of a manuscript—including field trial data, crop or livestock records, soil analyses, community surveys, or experimental results—may not be used for personal, professional, or institutional gain.
Reviewers are expected to delete or destroy all manuscript files after completing their review.
If consultation with colleagues is necessary, prior permission from the editorial office must be obtained.
Reviewer Anonymity
The journal follows a single-blind peer review system.
Reviewer identities must remain confidential and cannot be disclosed to authors.
Reviewers must not contact authors directly without explicit approval from the editorial office.
Editorial Confidentiality
The editorial team will not disclose details of submitted manuscripts—including author identities, data, or peer review reports—to any third party.
Exceptions are made only in cases of suspected academic misconduct, plagiarism, or data fabrication, in which case both authors and reviewers will be informed before confidentiality is lifted.
Retention of Records
For rejected manuscripts, all files will be removed from the editorial system, unless legal or ethical requirements necessitate retention; in such cases, the journal will seek author permission.
For accepted and published manuscripts, the journal will retain records of submissions, peer review reports, revisions, and editorial correspondence for a minimum of three years, or longer if required by institutional, publisher, or national regulations.
Data and Materials Availability Policy
Agriculture Reviews: An International Journal upholds strict policies on the availability of data, materials, experimental protocols, and supporting resources to promote transparency, reproducibility, and long-term usability in agricultural research.
Mandatory Data Availability Statement
All submissions must include a Data and Materials Availability Statement at the end of the manuscript.
Manuscripts without this statement will not be considered for publication.
Public Repositories
Authors are strongly encouraged to deposit datasets, soil/plant analyses, crop or livestock trial data, GIS files, survey results, and other supporting materials in trusted and publicly accessible repositories (e.g., Zenodo, Dryad, Figshare, Ag Data Commons, ICPSR).
Repository links and dataset identifiers (DOI, accession number, or URL) must be cited within the manuscript.
Restricted Access
f data or materials cannot be shared due to confidentiality, community agreements, intellectual property, or legal restrictions, authors must provide a clear justification in their Data Availability Statement.
Requests for restricted data should be directed to the corresponding author.
Use of Third-Party Data
If the research relies on third-party datasets (e.g., government agricultural surveys, licensed satellite imagery, or NGO crop monitoring data), authors must acknowledge the original source and provide guidance on how others may access these materials if permissible.
No Data Generated
If no new datasets or materials were generated (e.g., review articles, meta-analyses, policy studies), authors must clearly state:
“No new data were generated or analyzed in this study.”Editorial Oversight
The editorial office may request raw data, field logs, experimental codes, or GIS layers at any stage of peer review to verify results.
Failure to comply may result in rejection, correction, or retraction of the manuscript.
Citation Policy
Proper citation is essential to ensure academic integrity, transparency, and credit to original contributors in agricultural research.
Author Responsibilities:
Primary Sources: Cite original research articles, field studies, and datasets rather than relying solely on review papers.
Accuracy and Relevance: References must be accurate, relevant, and directly support statements made in the manuscript.
Diversity of Sources: Authors are encouraged to cite work from a broad range of countries, crop systems, and agricultural contexts to avoid geographic or institutional bias.
Balance: Avoid excessive citation of a single study or an overabundance of references for a single point.
Citation Manipulation:
In line with COPE’s Citation Manipulation Guidelines, the following practices are unethical:
Excessive self-citation solely to inflate citation counts.
Excessive citation of this journal to boost metrics.
Honorary or coercive citations, e.g., citing editors, reviewers, or well-known agricultural researchers without legitimate relevance.
Citation stacking, where groups of authors or journals mutually cite each other to artificially increase impact.
Journal Policy on Citation Ethics:
Manuscripts showing evidence of citation manipulation will be rejected immediately.
Unethical citation practices may be reported to the authors’ institutions or funding agencies.
Coercive citation requests from reviewers or editors must be reported to the publisher.
Editors found enforcing or practicing citation manipulation may be removed from their roles after investigation.
Legitimate Self-Citation:
Some self-citations may be necessary for continuity of research in areas such as crop improvement, soil fertility, irrigation management, pest and disease control, and agroecosystem modeling.
All such citations must be relevant and justified.
References and Citation Formatting Policy
General Guidelines
References must be accurate, complete, and directly relevant to agricultural research, crop science, soil science, livestock management, agronomy, agroforestry, or related areas.
All cited works must appear in the reference list, and all entries in the reference list must be cited in the text.
Authors are responsible for verifying accuracy before submission, particularly for datasets, field experiments, agricultural regulations, and international reports (e.g., FAO, ICAR, CGIAR).
Citation Style
The journal follows the APA citation style (7th edition), commonly used in agricultural and life sciences. Authors should adhere to the following rules:
In-text citations: Use author(s) and year, e.g., (Patel & Singh, 2022) or (FAO, 2021).
Reference order: References must be listed alphabetically by the first author’s last name.
Reference format: Each reference should include author(s), year, title, journal/book, volume(issue), page numbers, and DOI/URL when available.
Examples of APA Reference Style
Journal article:
Patel, R., & Singh, S. (2022). Sustainable rice-wheat cropping systems: Yield, soil health, and water-use efficiency. Journal of Agricultural Research, 48(2), 120–135. https://doi.org/10.1234/jar.2022.04802
Book:
Kumar, V. (2020). Principles of sustainable agriculture (3rd ed.). Springer.
Report:
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). (2021). The state of food and agriculture 2021: Climate change, agriculture, and food security. Rome: FAO.
Website/Online source:
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). (2023). Crop improvement programs. Retrieved from https://www.icrisat.org
Use of Reference Management Software
Authors are encouraged to use tools such as Zotero, EndNote, or Mendeley to ensure proper formatting and consistency.
Citation Integrity
Authors must cite original studies (e.g., field trials, greenhouse experiments, soil analyses, crop modeling studies) rather than relying only on secondary reviews.
Citations should represent a balanced global perspective, avoiding over-reliance on research from a single country or institution.
Excessive self-citations, journal self-citations, or irrelevant citations are prohibited.
Citation manipulation (e.g., stacking, coercion, or honorary citations) will result in rejection, in line with COPE guidelines.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism—including copying or reusing text, figures, data, or ideas without proper attribution—will not be tolerated.
Self-plagiarism, such as reusing large parts of previously published work, must be avoided unless properly cited and significantly extended.
The journal uses iThenticate to screen all submissions for originality.
Confirmed plagiarism cases will be managed according to COPE flowcharts and may result in rejection, retraction, or institutional notification.
Duplicate Publication Policy
The journal publishes only original agricultural research. Manuscripts must not be under consideration or published elsewhere (including non-English venues).
Exceptions include:
Preprints (on repositories like AgriRxiv, arXiv, or institutional repositories)
Theses or dissertations (institutional requirements)
Conference abstracts or posters (must be cited in the submission)
Datasets shared prior to publication (in repositories like Zenodo, Figshare, Dryad)
Policy briefs or summaries of agricultural reports published by agencies (with proper acknowledgment)
Translations of existing works (with permission and CC BY license)
Duplicate or redundant publications discovered post-publication will be handled as per COPE guidelines and may result in retraction.
Related Policies (Cross-Reference)
Authorship Criteria
Plagiarism and Originality
Conflict of Interest
Peer Review Policy
Data and Materials Availability
Research Ethics (Agriculture Context)
Corrections, Retractions, and Withdrawals
Open Access and Copyright
Preprint Policy
Archiving and Digital Preservation
Adherence to COPE Guidelines
Misconduct Policy
The journal is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of research integrity and publication ethics in agricultural science. Any form of misconduct will be investigated in accordance with COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics), WAME (World Association of Medical Editors), and ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors) guidelines.
Definition of Misconduct
Misconduct includes, but is not limited to:
Data falsification or fabrication – altering, omitting, or inventing agricultural or experimental data (e.g., crop yields, soil analysis, irrigation trials, livestock measurements).
Plagiarism – presenting another researcher’s work, ideas, figures, or tables without proper acknowledgment.
Improper authorship – excluding valid contributors, including “guest authors,” or duplicate publication without disclosure.
Misuse of peer review – misappropriating confidential data, experimental designs, or results during the review process.
Regulatory non-compliance – violating institutional, national, or international guidelines for agricultural research, field trials, or livestock/plant studies.
Citation misconduct – excessive self-citation, citation manipulation, omission of relevant prior studies, or use of fabricated references.
Monitoring and Reporting
All submissions are screened using plagiarism detection tools (e.g., iThenticate).
Reviewers and readers are encouraged to report suspected misconduct.
Allegations are investigated following COPE flowcharts, and outcomes may include rejection, retraction, or notification of relevant institutions or funding bodies.
Sanctions
Severe cases of misconduct (e.g., falsification of crop trial data, plagiarism, or citation manipulation) may result in:
Retraction of the published article
Banning authors from future submissions
Reporting to relevant academic, regulatory, or funding authorities
The journal is committed to ensuring integrity, transparency, and accountability, guaranteeing that all published agricultural research is reliable, reproducible, and trustworthy.
Crossmark, Corrections, and Retractions Policy
Agriculture Reviews is committed to preserving the accuracy, transparency, and integrity of the agricultural research record. The journal follows best practices recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) in handling corrections, retractions, and post-publication discussions.
Crossmark
The journal participates in the Crossmark initiative by Crossref, which allows readers to verify the most current and reliable version of an article. By clicking the Crossmark logo, readers can check whether updates, corrections, or retractions have been applied to an article.
Corrections
We recognize that errors may occur in agricultural research (e.g., crop yield data, soil fertility measurements, irrigation trials, livestock performance studies, or pest management reports). To maintain scientific reliability, the journal ensures a clear and transparent correction process:
Corrections will be issued promptly once an error is confirmed.
A correction notice will describe the nature of the change and link to the original article.
The original version will remain accessible with a correction note for transparency.
For online-first publications, corrections may be integrated directly with an audit trail of edits.
For published issues, a formal correction notice will be issued and linked to the article.
Retractions
In rare but necessary circumstances, Agriculture Reviews may retract articles to safeguard the integrity of the agricultural science record. Retractions may occur if:
Results are deemed unreliable due to errors, data falsification, or fabrication (e.g., manipulated crop trial data, falsified soil analysis, or invalid field surveys).
Plagiarism is detected.
Duplicate or redundant publication is identified.
Unauthorized use of datasets, plant genetic resources, or animal data occurs.
Copyright or legal violations are confirmed.
Undisclosed conflicts of interest influence results or conclusions.
The peer review process has been compromised.
Retraction practices include:
Publishing a linked retraction notice.
Clearly marking the retracted article while keeping it accessible for transparency.
Indicating article title, authors, reasons for retraction, and responsibility for the decision.
Preprint Policy
The journal supports open science in agriculture. Authors may deposit manuscripts on preprint servers (e.g., AgriRxiv, institutional repositories) at three stages:
Submitted Version (Original Manuscript)
Accepted Version (Post-Peer Review, Before Copyediting)
Published Version of Record
Authors must declare preprints during submission. After publication, authors should update the preprint with the final DOI and citation.
Archiving and Digital Preservation
To ensure long-term access to agricultural research, all published content is archived in trusted digital repositories such as Portico and CLOCKSS. Authors are also encouraged to deposit accepted versions in institutional or funder-mandated repositories.
Appeals and Complaints
Appeals: Authors may appeal editorial decisions with clear justifications (e.g., overlooked field trial data, misinterpretation of crop performance results). Appeals may involve additional peer review, and the editor’s post-appeal decision is final.
Complaints: Complaints about editorial processes or ethical issues will be handled according to COPE guidelines. If the complaint involves an editor, it may be escalated to the publisher.
Post-Publication Discussion
The journal encourages ongoing scholarly dialogue in agriculture. Readers and researchers may:
Report errors or ethical concerns to the editorial office.
Submit Letters to the Editor, Technical Notes, or Comments on published articles.
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Ethical Standards and Guidelines
This journal adheres to:
COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics)
WAME (World Association of Medical Editors)
ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors)
FAO and CGIAR Publication Ethics Guidelines relevant to agricultural science.