Best Plant Science and Agronomy Universities in United States 2026

An institution’s position in the ranking is determined by the aggregate D-index (Discipline H-index) of all qualifying scholars affiliated with that institution whose principal publication area is Plant Science and Agronomy. The D-index computation is discipline-specific, incorporating only publications and citation data directly relevant to Plant Science and Agronomy, eliminating unrelated output and enhancing the accuracy of the evaluation.

Scope of Research and Selection Criteria

This edition’s analysis covered an expansive dataset of 279,971 scientist profiles identified from a wide spectrum of bibliometric data sources. Of these, 14,876 researchers specializing in Plant Science and Agronomy were subjected to detailed examination. To uphold quality and relevance, each scientist had to meet a minimum D-index threshold of 30, with the vast majority of their scholarly output situated explicitly within the discipline. In addition to citation metrics, scientists’ awards and achievements within Plant Science and Agronomy were also scrutinized and included as a qualitative factor.

The qualifying D-index threshold for inclusion among top researchers is incrementally raised by 10, depending on the size of the scholar pool in each discipline. This approach ensures that the top 1% of leading scholars per field are consistently captured. To guarantee the accuracy of field specialization, a proximity of 30% or less must exist between a scientist’s overall H-index and their D-index. Notably, awards and recognitions remain an important supplementary element in evaluating a scholar’s impact within their field of study.

Verification Practices and Quality Assurance

At Research.com, we recognize the intrinsic limitations of bibliometric data; no single dataset can fully encapsulate a scholar’s contributions. For this reason, all scientist profiles underwent manual verification and rigorous cross-referencing across reputable publication sources to ensure legitimacy, accuracy, and completeness. While the number of publications in high-impact journals and conference proceedings is not a direct factor in our ranking, it remains a valuable secondary signal of a scientist's influence and capacity.

The positioning in our ranking derives from each researcher’s H-index as documented by OpenAlex and CrossRef. By leveraging these sophisticated and trusted platforms, we can assure participants and observers alike of this ranking’s robustness and transparency. For more details regarding our data collection, assessment, and ranking protocol, please visit our methodology page.

The Research.com Mission

The overarching goal of Research.com in developing these rankings is to motivate scientists, business leaders, and policymakers to engage with the evolving research landscape. By highlighting where top experts concentrate their efforts, we offer the entire research community—from established academics to institutional decision-makers—an authoritative, clear-sighted means to identify leading researchers and pioneering institutions within and across countries and fields of study.

Key Results from the 2024 Edition

• Top 3 institutions by leading scholars in Plant Science and Agronomy:
  • University of California, Davis – 61 scientists
  • University of Florida – 53 scientists
  • Cornell University – 40 scientists
• The most prominent Plant Science and Agronomy scholars worldwide represent institutions such as: The Ohio State University, Utrecht University, China Agricultural University, Curtin University, University of Birmingham, Australian National University, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Nanjing Agricultural University, Murdoch University, and University of Dundee.
• Top three global scientists:
  • Professor Rattan Lal (The Ohio State University) – D-index: 188 (Ranked #1 globally)
  • Mark Stitt (Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology) – D-index: 161 (Ranked #2 globally)
  • Pedro W. Crous (Utrecht University) – D-index: 157 (Ranked #3 globally)
• Performance statistics:
  • Average total D-index for the top 5% universities: 1,325 versus 202 for all 699 institutions ranked.
  • Average number of Plant Science and Agronomy discipline publications for scientists in the top 5% universities: 4,638 versus 727 for all 699 institutions.
  • Average number of citations for researchers at the top 1% universities: 279,971 compared to 46,531 for all 699 universities.

These results highlight substantial concentrations of excellence in leading US institutions and remarkable contributions from scholars globally, reaffirming the meticulous care and transparency underpinning the 2024 Research.com rankings.