A scientist’s position within this ranking is determined by their D-index (Discipline H-index), a refined metric that measures research impact exclusively within the examined discipline. The D-index includes only papers and citations directly related to Plant Science and Agronomy, ensuring a precise and discipline-specific assessment of scholarly influence.
Scope of Research and Inclusion Criteria
The ranking analysis encompassed 279,971 scientist profiles identified through a variety of bibliometric data sources across all scientific disciplines. Within the field of Plant Science and Agronomy specifically, 373 scientists were examined in detail.
To qualify for inclusion in the ranking, a scientist was required to have a D-index of at least 30. Moreover, the majority of a qualifying scientist’s tier publications needed to be firmly situated within Plant Science and Agronomy. Additional factors included recognized awards and achievements directly related to the field, which contributed to the rigor and relevance of the evaluation.
The D-index threshold is established as a stepwise increment of 10, depending on the total estimated number of scholars within each discipline. This methodology guarantees that the top 1% of leading researchers in Plant Science and Agronomy are represented while maintaining consistent standards tailored to the discipline size. Furthermore, candidates typically exhibit a proximity of 30% or less between their general H-index and their D-index, reflecting focused disciplinary impact rather than diffuse citation influence.
Verification and Methodological Rigor
We recognize that raw bibliometric data alone cannot fully capture the scholarly output and influence of researchers. Consequently, all scientist profiles included in this ranking were manually verified by our research team. This entailed cross-correlating publication records with a broad spectrum of trustworthy academic sources to ensure accuracy and to validate the relevance of each scientist’s contributions to Plant Science and Agronomy.
While the number of publications in prominent journals and high-impact conferences does not directly determine a researcher’s position in the ranking, it provides an important secondary indicator of their significance within the discipline.
The final ranking position for each researcher is anchored exclusively on their D-index, calculated from data derived from OpenAlex and CrossRef — the two most established and widely accepted bibliometric databases available to the scientific community. For comprehensive details about the methodology underlying this ranking, please visit our methodology page.
Research.com’s Mission
At Research.com, our core mission is to empower researchers, organizations, and policymakers worldwide by providing transparent, rigorously compiled information about leading experts in diverse scientific disciplines. This ranking serves as a powerful tool to identify and understand where top Plant Science and Agronomy researchers are making an impact globally and nationally, and to foster recognition within institutions and the wider scientific community.
Through this and other discipline-specific rankings, we aim to stimulate collaboration, innovation, and informed decision-making by shining a spotlight on the scholars driving advancement in science.
