A scientist’s position in this ranking is determined based on their Discipline H-index, or D-index, a bibliometric metric that reflects the impact and productivity of a researcher specifically within the examined discipline. The D-index exclusively includes papers and citations relevant to Plant Science and Agronomy, allowing for a focused and discipline-specific evaluation.
Scope of Research and Ranking Criteria
The ranking process involved a broad examination of 279,971 scientist profiles aggregated from a variety of bibliometric data sources across all scientific disciplines. Within this extensive dataset, 1,254 scientists specializing in Plant Science and Agronomy were identified and considered.
To qualify for inclusion in the ranking, a scientist was required to have a minimum D-index of 30, ensuring a baseline of substantial impact in the field. Additionally, a majority of their tier publications needed to be directly within the domain of Plant Science and Agronomy, reflecting the centrality of their research contributions in this area. Awards and notable achievements specific to the discipline were also considered to further validate the candidates’ standing.
The threshold D-index value was determined relative to the overall population of scholars in each discipline and is incremented by 10 points depending on the size of the discipline’s researcher pool. This approach guarantees that the top 1% of leading scholars in Plant Science and Agronomy are incorporated into the ranking. Furthermore, to maintain consistency and relevance, the proximity between a scientist’s general H-index and their D-index is evaluated to be 30% or less.
Additional Verification Practices
The Research.com team acknowledges that raw bibliometric data alone cannot serve as an absolute measure of scholarly output or impact. Consequently, all scientist profiles were manually verified and cross-correlated against publications listed in a wide array of trusted academic sources to ensure accuracy and authenticity.
While the number of papers published in leading journals and conference proceedings does not directly influence a researcher’s position in the ranking, it remains an important secondary indicator of a scientist’s contributions within Plant Science and Agronomy.
The ranking itself is fundamentally established using each researcher’s D-index, derived from information available through OpenAlex and CrossRef—the two most prominent and widely recognized bibliometric databases accessible to the global research community.
For a comprehensive understanding of the methodology applied, please refer to our methodology page.
Research.com’s Mission Behind the Ranking
Our mission at Research.com is to motivate researchers, academic institutions, industry stakeholders, and policymakers worldwide to closely examine emerging trends and identify where leading experts are focusing their efforts. We strive to provide the scientific community with transparent and credible tools to discover who the foremost scholars in specific fields are—be it within individual countries, particular research institutions, or across global landscapes.
Through this ranking, we aim to foster collaboration, recognition, and informed decision-making in the field of Plant Science and Agronomy, empowering all stakeholders to engage more effectively with the pioneers shaping the future of these vital scientific disciplines.
