World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
David Whitehead

David Whitehead

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Environmental Sciences
New Zealand
2026
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Plant Science and Agronomy
New Zealand
2026

D-Index & Metrics

Environmental Sciences

D-Index
78
Citations
18515
World Ranking
1086
National Ranking
2

Plant Science and Agronomy

D-Index
76
Citations
17275
World Ranking
515
National Ranking
3

David Whitehead publication distribution in Plant Science and Agronomy in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Plant Science and Agronomy in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where David Whitehead sits on this spectrum.

36–40 publications: 2 scientists 41–45 publications: 7 scientists 46–50 publications: 40 scientists 51–55 publications: 58 scientists 56–60 publications: 60 scientists 61–65 publications: 107 scientists 66–70 publications: 130 scientists 71–75 publications: 153 scientists 76–80 publications: 191 scientists 81–85 publications: 199 scientists 86–90 publications: 206 scientists 91–95 publications: 218 scientists 96–100 publications: 226 scientists 101–105 publications: 227 scientists 106–110 publications: 247 scientists 111–115 publications: 255 scientists 116–120 publications: 253 scientists 121–125 publications: 233 scientists 126–130 publications: 219 scientists 131–135 publications: 201 scientists 136–140 publications: 194 scientists 141–145 publications: 176 scientists 146–150 publications: 157 scientists 151–155 publications: 147 scientists 156–160 publications: 151 scientists 161–165 publications: 159 scientists 166–170 publications: 137 scientists 171–175 publications: 128 scientists 176–180 publications: 126 scientists 181–185 publications: 98 scientists 186–190 publications: 114 scientists 191–195 publications: 100 scientists 196–200 publications: 90 scientists 201–205 publications: 71 scientists 206–210 publications: 98 scientists 211–215 publications: 70 scientists 216–220 publications: 86 scientists 221–225 publications: 61 scientists 226–230 publications: 58 scientists 231–235 publications: 53 scientists 236–240 publications: 64 scientists 241–245 publications: 39 scientists 246–250 publications: 46 scientists 251–255 publications: 51 scientists 256–260 publications: 36 scientists 261–265 publications: 44 scientists 266–270 publications: 35 scientists 271–275 publications: 30 scientists 276–280 publications: 33 scientists 281–285 publications: 35 scientists 286–290 publications: 36 scientists 291–295 publications: 26 scientists 296–300 publications: 26 scientists 301–305 publications: 31 scientists 306–310 publications: 30 scientists 311–315 publications: 21 scientists 316–320 publications: 29 scientists 321–325 publications: 14 scientists 326–330 publications: 15 scientists 331–335 publications: 15 scientists 336–340 publications: 17 scientists 341–345 publications: 15 scientists 346–350 publications: 12 scientists 351–355 publications: 17 scientists 356–360 publications: 18 scientists 361–365 publications: 12 scientists 366–370 publications: 11 scientists 371–375 publications: 6 scientists 376–380 publications: 6 scientists 381–385 publications: 11 scientists 386–390 publications: 9 scientists 391–395 publications: 10 scientists 396–400 publications: 8 scientists 401–405 publications: 4 scientists 406–410 publications: 9 scientists 411–415 publications: 11 scientists 416–420 publications: 4 scientists 421–425 publications: 7 scientists 426–430 publications: 4 scientists 431–435 publications: 3 scientists 436–440 publications: 5 scientists 441–445 publications: 8 scientists 446–450 publications: 6 scientists 451–455 publications: 7 scientists 456–460 publications: 5 scientists 461–465 publications: 6 scientists 466 publications: 2 scientists 467+ publications: 99 scientists
36 publications 467+

This scientist: 214 publications — 81st percentile

81% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 467 publications or more.

David Whitehead D-index placement in Plant Science and Agronomy in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Plant Science and Agronomy scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where David Whitehead sits on this spectrum.

30 D-Index: 200 scientists 31 D-Index: 236 scientists 32 D-Index: 253 scientists 33 D-Index: 283 scientists 34 D-Index: 288 scientists 35 D-Index: 240 scientists 36 D-Index: 246 scientists 37 D-Index: 243 scientists 38 D-Index: 247 scientists 39 D-Index: 229 scientists 40 D-Index: 232 scientists 41 D-Index: 230 scientists 42 D-Index: 228 scientists 43 D-Index: 219 scientists 44 D-Index: 193 scientists 45 D-Index: 164 scientists 46 D-Index: 158 scientists 47 D-Index: 143 scientists 48 D-Index: 131 scientists 49 D-Index: 127 scientists 50 D-Index: 122 scientists 51 D-Index: 122 scientists 52 D-Index: 110 scientists 53 D-Index: 102 scientists 54 D-Index: 98 scientists 55 D-Index: 79 scientists 56 D-Index: 85 scientists 57 D-Index: 88 scientists 58 D-Index: 91 scientists 59 D-Index: 62 scientists 60 D-Index: 61 scientists 61 D-Index: 59 scientists 62 D-Index: 54 scientists 63 D-Index: 61 scientists 64 D-Index: 59 scientists 65 D-Index: 58 scientists 66 D-Index: 41 scientists 67 D-Index: 49 scientists 68 D-Index: 39 scientists 69 D-Index: 32 scientists 70 D-Index: 40 scientists 71 D-Index: 47 scientists 72 D-Index: 38 scientists 73 D-Index: 28 scientists 74 D-Index: 29 scientists 75 D-Index: 28 scientists 76 D-Index: 22 scientists 77 D-Index: 21 scientists 78 D-Index: 25 scientists 79 D-Index: 26 scientists 80 D-Index: 19 scientists 81 D-Index: 16 scientists 82 D-Index: 12 scientists 83 D-Index: 16 scientists 84 D-Index: 14 scientists 85 D-Index: 11 scientists 86 D-Index: 17 scientists 87 D-Index: 13 scientists 88 D-Index: 10 scientists 89 D-Index: 12 scientists 90 D-Index: 18 scientists 91 D-Index: 16 scientists 92 D-Index: 16 scientists 93 D-Index: 17 scientists 94 D-Index: 12 scientists 95 D-Index: 8 scientists 96 D-Index: 9 scientists 97 D-Index: 9 scientists 98 D-Index: 11 scientists 99 D-Index: 12 scientists 100 D-Index: 5 scientists 101 D-Index: 8 scientists 102 D-Index: 4 scientists 103 D-Index: 11 scientists 104 D-Index: 5 scientists 105 D-Index: 9 scientists 106 D-Index: 7 scientists 107 D-Index: 4 scientists 108 D-Index: 8 scientists 109+ D-Index: 99 scientists
30 D-Index 109+

This scientist: 76 D-Index — 92nd percentile

92% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 109 D-Index or more.

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Environmental Sciences in New Zealand Leader Award
  • 2026 - Research.com Plant Science and Agronomy in New Zealand Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Plant Science and Agronomy in New Zealand Leader Award
  • 2022 - Research.com Plant Science and Agronomy in New Zealand Leader Award
  • 2012 - Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand
  • 1999 - Member of the Royal Irish Academy

Overview

What is he best known for?

The fields of study he is best known for:

  • Ecology
  • Botany
  • Ecosystem

David Whitehead spends much of his time researching Botany, Pinus radiata, Respiration, Photosynthesis and Canopy. His study in Botany is interdisciplinary in nature, drawing from both Agronomy and Horticulture. His work focuses on many connections between Pinus radiata and other disciplines, such as Stomatal conductance, that overlap with his field of interest in Water balance.

He has included themes like Acclimatization, Carbon dioxide, Photosynthetic acclimation and Deciduous in his Respiration study. Photosynthesis connects with themes related to Nitrogen cycle in his study. His research investigates the connection between Xylem and topics such as Transpiration that intersect with issues in Ecology.

His most cited work include:

  • The knowns, known unknowns and unknowns of sequestration of soil organic carbon (710 citations)
  • Physiological regulation of productivity and water use in Eucalyptus: a review (276 citations)
  • The relationship between tree height and leaf area: sapwood area ratio. (255 citations)

What are the main themes of his work throughout his whole career to date?

His primary scientific interests are in Botany, Photosynthesis, Canopy, Agronomy and Horticulture. His study in Pinus radiata, Stomatal conductance, Respiration, Deciduous and Woody plant is carried out as part of his studies in Botany. Many of his research projects under Photosynthesis are closely connected to Shading with Shading, tying the diverse disciplines of science together.

His biological study spans a wide range of topics, including Rainforest, Dacrydium cupressinum and Leaf area index. David Whitehead interconnects Soil water, Cytisus scoparius and Tree canopy in the investigation of issues within Agronomy. As part of the same scientific family, David Whitehead usually focuses on Ecology, concentrating on Carbon sequestration and intersecting with Carbon sink.

He most often published in these fields:

  • Botany (51.59%)
  • Photosynthesis (25.40%)
  • Canopy (22.22%)

What were the highlights of his more recent work (between 2014-2021)?

  • Soil water (15.87%)
  • Agronomy (22.22%)
  • Soil carbon (13.49%)

In recent papers he was focusing on the following fields of study:

His main research concerns Soil water, Agronomy, Soil carbon, Environmental chemistry and Grazing. His Soil carbon research is multidisciplinary, incorporating elements of Soil organic matter, Total organic carbon and Soil depth. His biological study spans a wide range of topics, including Carbon dioxide, Nitrate and Ecosystem.

David Whitehead has included themes like Photosynthesis and Isotopes of carbon in his Ecosystem study. His Productivity study combines topics from a wide range of disciplines, such as Botany, Pinus radiata, Juvenile, Water-use efficiency and Biomass partitioning. As part of his research on Soil respiration, studies on Respiration and Ecology are part of the effort.

Between 2014 and 2021, his most popular works were:

  • Put more carbon in soils to meet Paris climate pledges (44 citations)
  • The 4p1000 initiative: Opportunities, limitations and challenges for implementing soil organic carbon sequestration as a sustainable development strategy (38 citations)
  • Management practices to reduce losses or increase soil carbon stocks in temperate grazed grasslands: New Zealand as a case study (28 citations)

In his most recent research, the most cited papers focused on:

  • Ecology
  • Botany
  • Ecosystem

His scientific interests lie mostly in Soil water, Agronomy, Soil carbon, Environmental protection and Food security. The study incorporates disciplines such as Photosynthesis, Mesocosm, Isotopes of carbon, Soil respiration and Environmental chemistry in addition to Agronomy. Soil respiration is a subfield of Respiration that David Whitehead studies.

His Soil carbon research incorporates elements of Humus, Soil organic matter, Soil structure, Ecosystem respiration and Ecosystem. In Environmental protection, David Whitehead works on issues like Minimum tillage, which are connected to Greenhouse gas. His studies deal with areas such as Sustainable development, Climate change and Environmental planning as well as Food security.

Best Publications

  • The knowns, known unknowns and unknowns of sequestration of soil organic carbon

    Uta Stockmann;Mark A. Adams;John W. Crawford;Damien J. Field

  • Physiological regulation of productivity and water use in Eucalyptus: a review

    David Whitehead;Christopher L. Beadle

  • Conducting sapwood area, foliage area, and permeability in mature trees of Piceasitchensis and Pinuscontorta

    D. Whitehead;W. R. N. Edwards;P. G. Jarvis

  • Regulation of stomatal conductance and transpiration in forest canopies

    David Whitehead

  • The relationship between tree height and leaf area: sapwood area ratio.

    N. Mcdowell;H. Barnard;B. J. Bond;T. Hinckley

  • Soil Security: Solving the Global Soil Crisis

    Andrea Koch;Alex McBratney;Mark Adams;Damien Field

  • The 4p1000 initiative: Opportunities, limitations and challenges for implementing soil organic carbon sequestration as a sustainable development strategy

    Cornelia Rumpel;Farshad Amiraslani;Claire Chenu;Magaly García Cardenas

  • The contribution of stored water to transpiration in Scots pine

    R. H. Waring;D. Whitehead;P. G. Jarvis

  • A model to predict transformations and losses of nitrogen in UK pastures grazed by beef-cattle

    D. Scholefield;D. R. Lockyer;D. C. Whitehead;K. C. Tyson

  • Nitrogenous constituents in the urine of cattle, sheep and goats

    Unknown

  • Stomatal conductance, transpiration, and resistance to water uptake in a Pinussylvestris spacing experiment

    D. Whitehead;P. G. Jarvis;R. H. Waring

  • The response of photosynthetic model parameters to temperature and nitrogen concentration in Pinus radiata D. Don

    A. S. Walcroft;D. Whitehead;W. B. Silvester;F. M. Kelliher

  • Put more carbon in soils to meet Paris climate pledges

    Cornelia Rumpel;Farshad Amiraslani;Lydie-Stella Koutika;Pete Smith

  • Effects of biological invasions on forest carbon sequestration

    D. A. Peltzer;R. B. Allen;G. M. Lovett;D. Whitehead

  • The Role of Nitrogen in Grassland Productivity

    Unknown

  • The Estimation of Foliage Area from Sapwood Basal Area in Scots Pine

    Unknown

  • Seasonal Changes in Stable Carbon Isotope Ratios within Annual Rings of Pinus radiata Reflect Environmental Regulation of Growth Processes

    A. S. Walcroft;W. B. Silvester;D. Whitehead;F. M. Kelliher

  • Plant growth in elevated CO2 alters mitochondrial number and chloroplast fine structure.

    Kevin L. Griffin;O. Roger Anderson;Mary D. Gastrich;James D. Lewis

  • Responses of leaf respiration to temperature and leaf characteristics in three deciduous tree species vary with site water availability

    Matthew H Turnbull;David Whitehead;David T Tissue;William S. F Schuster

  • Carbon partitioning in Pinus radiata stands in relation to foliage nitrogen status.

    Peter N. Beets;David Whitehead

  • Above-ground biomass accumulation and nitrogen fixation of broom (Cytisus scoparius L.) growing with juvenile Pinus radiata on a dryland site

    Michael S. Watt;Peter W. Clinton;David Whitehead;Brian Richardson

  • Long-term carbon exchange in a sparse, seasonally dry tussock grassland

    John E. Hunt;Francis M. Kelliher;Tony M. McSeveny;Des J. Ross

  • Thermal acclimation of leaf respiration but not photosynthesis in Populus deltoides×nigra

    Lai Fern Ow;Kevin L. Griffin;David Whitehead;Adrian S. Walcroft

  • Sap flow rates and sapwood density are critical factors in within‐ and between‐tree variation in CO2 efflux from stems of mature Dacrydium cupressinum trees

    William P. Bowman;Margaret M. Barbour;Matthew H. Turnbull;David T. Tissue

  • Response of total night-time respiration to differences in total daily photosynthesis for leaves in a Quercus rubra L. canopy: implications for modelling canopy CO2 exchange

    David Whitehead;Kevin L. Griffin;Matthew H. Turnbull;David T. Tissue

  • Implications of albedo changes following afforestation on the benefits of forests as carbon sinks

    M. U. F. Kirschbaum;D. Whitehead;S. M. Dean;P. N. Beets

  • Response of transpiration and photosynthesis to a transient change in illuminated foliage area for a Pinus radiata D. Don tree

    D. Whitehead;N. J. Livingston;P.M. Kelliher;K. P. Hogan

  • CLIMATE AND NET CARBON AVAILABILITY DETERMINE TEMPORAL PATTERNS OF SEED PRODUCTION BY NOTHOFAGUS

    Sarah J. Richardson;Robert B. Allen;David Whitehead;Fiona E. Carswell

Frequent Co-Authors

Matthew H. Turnbull
Matthew H. Turnbull University of Canterbury
David T. Tissue
David T. Tissue Western Sydney University
Kevin L. Griffin
Kevin L. Griffin Columbia University
John E. Hunt
John E. Hunt Landcare Research
Peter Millard
Peter Millard Landcare Research
Margaret M. Barbour
Margaret M. Barbour University of Sydney
Duane A. Peltzer
Duane A. Peltzer Landcare Research
Keith C. Cameron
Keith C. Cameron Lincoln University

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