The position of each scientist within this ranking is determined by their D-index (Discipline H-index), a refined metric that exclusively incorporates publications and citations within the examined discipline — in this case, Plant Science and Agronomy. This approach ensures that the ranking reflects a researcher's specific influence and contributions to the discipline rather than their general scientific footprint.
Scope of Research and Inclusion Criteria
In constructing this ranking, a comprehensive evaluation was conducted across a broad spectrum of disciplines. A total of 279,971 scientist profiles were examined from various bibliometric data sources. Within this extensive dataset, 112 scientists specializing in Plant Science and Agronomy were identified and analyzed.
To qualify for inclusion in the ranking, a scientist was required to have a D-index of at least 30, reflecting a significant and sustained level of impactful research in the field. Additionally, a majority of their tier publications needed to be focused primarily on Plant Science and Agronomy. Awards and notable achievements within this domain were also carefully considered to provide a holistic view of scientific excellence.
The D-index threshold for top researchers is strategically set in increments of 10 based on the estimated population size of scholars within each discipline. This method ensures that the top 1% of leading experts in Plant Science and Agronomy are systematically incorporated. Furthermore, to maintain alignment between general and discipline-specific influence, only researchers whose general H-index and D-index differ by no more than 30% were deemed eligible.
Additional Verification Practices
Aware of the limitations inherent in raw bibliometric data, the Research.com team undertook rigorous manual verification of all scientist profiles. This included cross-correlating individual publication records against a wide array of trustworthy sources to authenticate research outputs and affiliations.
While the number of papers published in prominent journals and conference proceedings is not directly factored into the ranking position, it serves as a valuable secondary indicator of a scientist’s contribution to their field. The primary ranking leverages the D-index calculated from data sourced from OpenAlex and CrossRef—the most prominent and widely acknowledged bibliometric databases available to the research community.
For those interested in a comprehensive explanation of the methodology employed in compiling this ranking, we encourage you to visit our methodology page.
Research.com’s Mission and Agenda
Research.com is committed to fostering transparency and recognition within the global scientific community. Our mission is to motivate researchers, companies, and policymakers worldwide to examine the trajectories of leading experts across various disciplines. By providing a clear and credible platform highlighting top researchers, we enable the scientific community, academic institutions, and decision makers to identify who the foremost authorities are in specific areas of study, within countries, or at research institutions.
This ranking exemplifies our meticulous approach to data aggregation and analysis, underscoring our dedication to supporting informed research collaboration and strategic academic development.
