World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Erik Smolders

Erik Smolders

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Plant Science and Agronomy
Belgium
2026
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Chemistry
Belgium
2025

D-Index & Metrics

Chemistry

D-Index
77
Citations
19026
World Ranking
4083
National Ranking
55

Plant Science and Agronomy

D-Index
78
Citations
18950
World Ranking
473
National Ranking
6

Erik Smolders 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 Erik Smolders 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: 380 publications — 97th percentile

97% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

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

Erik Smolders 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 Erik Smolders 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: 78 D-Index — 93rd percentile

93% 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 Plant Science and Agronomy in Belgium Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Chemistry in Belgium Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Plant Science and Agronomy in Belgium Leader Award
  • 2022 - Research.com Chemistry in Belgium Leader Award

Overview

Erik Smolders is affiliated with KU Leuven in Belgium and has contributed extensively to the fields of Environmental Science and Agricultural and Biological Sciences, with a particular focus on subfields such as Plant Science, Environmental Chemistry, Pollution, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, and Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis.

Their research covers a range of topics including:

  • Heavy metals in environment
  • Phosphorus and nutrient management
  • Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
  • Radioactive element chemistry and processing
  • Plant nutrient uptake and metabolism
  • Radioactivity and Radon Measurements
  • Radioactive contamination and transfer

Smolders has published recent papers in notable journals such as:

  • "Mitigating the level of cadmium in cacao products: Reviewing the transfer of cadmium from soil to chocolate bar" (2021) in The Science of The Total Environment
  • "Metal mining and birth defects: a case-control study in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo" (2020) in The Lancet Planetary Health
  • "A functional-structural model of upland rice root systems reveals the importance of laterals and growing root tips for phosphate uptake from wet and dry soils" (2020) in Annals of Botany
  • "Trace element concentrations in mineral phosphate fertilizers used in Europe: A balanced survey" (2020) in The Science of The Total Environment
  • "Re-evaluation of the existing health-based guidance values for copper and exposure assessment from all sources" (2023) in EFSA Journal

The frequent co-authors who have collaborated with Smolders include:

  • Mieke Verbeeck
  • Claudia Moens
  • Hester Blommaert
  • Eduardo Chávez
  • Maarten Everaert

Their work has been published predominantly in the following venues:

  • The Science of The Total Environment
  • SSRN Electronic Journal
  • Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
  • European Journal of Soil Science
  • Geoderma

Best Publications

  • Plant uptake of radiocaesium: a review of mechanisms, regulation and application.

    Y G Zhu;E Smolders

  • Inputs of trace elements in agricultural soils via phosphate fertilizers in European countries

    Generose Nziguheba;Erik Smolders

  • Sustainability of artisanal mining of cobalt in DR Congo.

    Célestin Banza Lubaba Nkulu;Lidia Casas;Vincent Haufroid;Thierry De Putter

  • Toxicity of trace metals in soil as affected by soil type and aging after contamination: using calibrated bioavailability models to set ecological soil standards.

    Erik Smolders;Koen Oorts;Patrick Van Sprang;Ilse Schoeters

  • Partitioning of metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) in soils: concepts, methodologies, prediction and applications ― a review

    Fien Degryse;Erik Smolders;D.R Parker

  • Nitrogen availability influences phosphorus removal in microalgae-based wastewater treatment.

    Annelies Beuckels;Erik Smolders;Koenraad Muylaert

  • Acute toxicity and prothrombotic effects of quantum dots: impact of surface charge.

    Jorina Geys;Abderrahim Nemmar;Erik Verbeken;Erik Smolders

  • The Red Mud Accident in Ajka (Hungary): Plant Toxicity and Trace Metal Bioavailability in Red Mud Contaminated Soil

    Stefan Ruyters;Jelle Mertens;Elvira Vassilieva;Boris Dehandschutter

  • Fate and Effect of Zinc from Tire Debris in Soil

    Erik Smolders;Fien Degryse

  • Biodegradation: Updating the Concepts of Control for Microbial Cleanup in Contaminated Aquifers

    Rainer U. Meckenstock;Martin Elsner;Christian Griebler;Tillmann Lueders

  • Metal complexation properties of freshwater dissolved organic matter are explained by its aromaticity and by anthropogenic ligands.

    Stijn Baken;Fien Degryse;Liesbeth Verheyen;Roel Merckx

  • Predicting availability of mineral elements to plants with the DGT technique: a review of experimental data and interpretation by modelling

    Fien Degryse;Erik Smolders;Hao Zhang;William Davison

  • Concentrations of 137Cs and K in Soil Solution Predict the Plant Availability of 137Cs in Soils

    Erik Smolders;Karen Van den Brande;Roel Merckx

  • Chloride increases cadmium uptake in Swiss chard in a resin-buffered nutrient solution

    Erik Smolders;M.J. McLaughlin

  • Soil properties affecting toxicity of zinc to soil microbial properties in laboratory-spiked and field-contaminated soils.

    Erik Smolders;Jurgen Buekers;Ian Oliver;Mike J. McLaughlin

  • Phosphate-Exchanged Mg–Al Layered Double Hydroxides: A New Slow Release Phosphate Fertilizer

    Maarten Everaert;Ruben Warrinnier;Stijn Baken;Jon-Petter Gustafsson

  • Kinetics of Zn Release in Soils and Prediction of Zn Concentration in Plants Using Diffusive Gradients in Thin Films

    Hao Zhang;Enzo Lombi;Erik Smolders;Steve McGrath

  • Terrestrial biotic ligand model. 2. Application to Ni and Cu toxicities to plants, invertebrates, and microbes in soil.

    Sagar Thakali;Herbert E. Allen;Dominic M. Di Toro;Alexander A. Ponizovsky

  • Future trends in soil cadmium concentration under current cadmium fluxes to European agricultural soils

    Leen Six;Erik Smolders

  • Labile Cd complexes increase Cd availability to plants.

    Fien Degryse;Erik Smolders;Roel Merckx

  • Effect of soil solution chloride on cadmium availability to Swiss chard

    Erik Smolders;R.M. Lambregts;M.J. McLaughlin;K.G. Tiller

  • Bacteria, not archaea, restore nitrification in a zinc-contaminated soil.

    Jelle Mertens;Kris Broos;Kris Broos;Steven A Wakelin;George A Kowalchuk

  • Cadmium fixation in soils measured by isotopic dilution

    Erik Smolders;K. Brans;A. Földi;Roel Merckx

Frequent Co-Authors

Roel Merckx
Roel Merckx KU Leuven
Fien Degryse
Fien Degryse University of Adelaide
Mike J. McLaughlin
Mike J. McLaughlin University of Adelaide
Jon Petter Gustafsson
Jon Petter Gustafsson Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Steve P. McGrath
Steve P. McGrath Rothamsted Research
Enzo Lombi
Enzo Lombi University of South Australia
Colin R. Janssen
Colin R. Janssen Ghent University
Karel De Schamphelaere
Karel De Schamphelaere Ghent University

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