The institutional positions are determined based on the sum of D-indexes (Discipline H-index) of all ranking scholars affiliated with a given university or research institution. The D-index calculates an H-index exclusively within the discipline of Plant Science and Agronomy, incorporating only the publications and citation data specific to this area of study. This discipline-specific approach ensures a focused and accurate reflection of scholarly impact within the field.
Scope of Research and Scholar Selection
Our analysis began with the identification of 279,971 scientist profiles across various bibliometric databases, from which a dedicated subset of 20,124 scientists engaged specifically in Plant Science and Agronomy was examined.
To qualify for inclusion in the ranking, each scientist was required to have a D-index of at least 30, alongside a predominance of their tier publications within Plant Science and Agronomy. We also considered scientists’ awards and achievements pertinent to the discipline to further validate their prominence. The D-index threshold for top researchers adjusts incrementally by 10, depending on the total number of scholars estimated in each discipline, thus ensuring inclusion of the top 1% of leading experts.
Moreover, we enforce a proximity constraint where the discrepancy between a scientist's general H-index and their discipline-specific D-index does not exceed 30%, reinforcing the relevance of their work to Plant Science and Agronomy. Awards and professional distinctions in the field further strengthened the robustness of the selection criteria.
Additional Verification Practices
Understanding that raw bibliometric data alone cannot fully encapsulate the nuances of scholarly output, our team of researchers undertook meticulous manual verification of all scientist profiles. This process included cross-correlation of publications with a wide array of trustworthy academic sources to ensure the accuracy and legitimacy of each profile.
While not directly factored into the ranking score, the volume of publications in prominent journals and conference proceedings serves as a valuable secondary signal of a scientist’s contribution to their specific research domain.
The ranking positions themselves are established using each researcher’s H-index as derived from OpenAlex and CrossRef, arguably the most authoritative publicly accessible bibliometric databases currently available to the scholarly community.
For a detailed overview of our methodology, we invite readers to visit our methodology page.
Research.com’s Agenda and Mission
At Research.com, our mission is to inspire scientists, policymakers, and business leaders worldwide to explore the trajectories of top experts in their respective fields. We aim to provide the global research community with transparent, data-driven insights to identify leading experts across disciplines, countries, and institutions. By doing so, we facilitate collaboration, recognition, and informed decision-making that drives scientific innovation forward.
Key Results and Highlights
- Top 3 Institutions by Number of Leading Scientists:
- Nanjing Agricultural University (77 scientists)
- University of California, Davis (69 scientists)
- Cornell University (63 scientists)
- Most Prominent Scholars Worldwide in Plant Science and Agronomy:
The Ohio State University, University of Göttingen, University of California San Diego, Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Freie Universität Berlin, Stanford University, University of Basel, Wageningen University & Research, University of Western Australia, and Okayama University.
- Top Individual Scientists:
- Professor Rattan Lal (The Ohio State University) – D-index: 199 (Rank 1 Worldwide)
- Ernst-Detlef Schulze (Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry) – D-index: 160 (Rank 2)
- Yakov Kuzyakov (University of Göttingen) – D-index: 143 (Rank 3)
- Aggregate Metrics for Top Performing Institutions:
- Average total D-index for the top 5% universities: 1,668 (versus 235 average across all 907 universities)
- Average number of published articles in Plant Science and Agronomy by scientists affiliated with the top 5%: 5,576 (versus 800 average across all institutions)
- Average citation count for researchers affiliated with the top 1% universities: 721,102 (compared to 54,148 average among all universities)
The ranking underscores the substantial disparity in scholarly output and impact among the world’s leading universities in Plant Science and Agronomy, recognizing both individuals and institutions that drive innovation and knowledge in this vital discipline.
