Policies

Guidelines to the Contributors

The journal publishes original research papers, review articles and short communications in all areas of agricultural sciences. All the manuscripts will be referred. Though responsibility for any statement in the article rests entirely with the concerning authors. The manuscripts should be submitted to https://journal.learningmedia.in/index.php/api and the copy of manuscript should also be mailed to agriphytologica@gmail.com or editor.agriphytologica@gmail.com.  The authors are advised to prepare their manuscripts according to the following guidelines.

Preparation of the Text

Each full-length research paper must not exceed 8–10 typed pages, including tables and illustrations. However, review articles may contain 15–20 typed pages. Short communications should not exceed 3–5 typed pages, in which no separate abstract and other sections are needed.Manuscripts should be typed in MS Word, font Times New Roman, font size 12, double-spaced and thoroughly revised before submission. Numerical data and calculations should be carefully checked.

Title

The title should be brief, specific and informative, typed in all capitals. Scientific names should be typed in italics or underlined.

Address

The address of the institution where the work has been carried out should be given below the name(s) of the author(s).

Abstract

A brief abstract, not exceeding 250 words, of the principal points and important conclusions should be typed.

Key Words

The abstract should be followed by not exceeding ten key words indicating the contents of the research article.

Introduction

The Introduction should be brief and without heading, and should be related to the aim of the study. The review of literature should be pertinent to the theme of the paper. Extensive review and unnecessary detail of earlier work should be avoided.

Materials and Methods

This section should inform the reader about the appropriate methodology, etc. If known methods have been adopted, only references need be cited. It should comprise the experimental design and techniques.

Results and Discussion

Results and Discussion should be combined to avoid repetition. The results should not be repeated in both tables and figures. The discussion should relate to the significance of the observations.

Tables and Figures

Tables should be typed on a separate file with the first letter capital, table numbers followed by the title of the table.

For each figure, a good-quality image should be submitted. The size of the figure should not exceed 8.5 cm × 15 cm. Captions and legends to illustrations should be typed clearly. Line drawings and photographs should contain the figure number and author's name on the back with a soft lead pencil.

Acknowledgement

Acknowledgement should mention only assistance received in real terms and financial grants provided by an agency.

References

References should be as per Harvard Author–Date Referencing Guidelines.

The Harvard author–date system uses the author's surname and year of publication for in-text citations, with full bibliographic details provided in the reference list at the end. Use the following formats for journal articles, books, book chapters in edited books, websites and theses or dissertations.

1. Journal Article Format

Author Surname, Initial(s). (Year) ‘Article title’, Journal Title, volume(issue), pp. xx–xx.

Example:

Sharma, R.K. and Gupta, P. (2023) ‘Biodiversity conservation in India’, Indian Journal of Ecology, 50(2), pp. 120–128.

Article with DOI:

Sharma, R.K. (2023) ‘Biodiversity conservation in India’, Indian Journal of Ecology, 50(2), pp. 120–128. doi: 10.xxxx/xxxxx.

Best practice: Include the DOI whenever one is available.

2. Book Format

Author Surname, Initial(s). (Year) Title of book. Edition. Place of publication: Publisher.

Example:

Sharma, R.K. (2022) Principles of Botany. 3rd edn. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.

Book with two authors:

Kumar, A. and Singh, P. (2021) Environmental Science. New Delhi: McGraw Hill.

Book with three or more authors:

Gupta, R., Sharma, P. and Verma, A. (2020) Modern Biology. New Delhi: Academic Press.

Use all authors in the reference list unless the specific Harvard variant prescribed by the institution says otherwise.

3. Chapter in an Edited Book Format

Chapter Author Surname, Initial(s). (Year) ‘Chapter title’, in Editor Surname, Initial(s). (ed./eds.) Book title. Place: Publisher, pp. xx–xx.

Example:

Singh, A. (2022) ‘Plant diversity and conservation’, in Kumar, R. (ed.) Advances in Plant Science. New Delhi: Springer, pp. 45–62.

4. Website Format

Organisation/Author (Year) Title of webpage. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

Example:

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (2024) Biodiversity conservation in India. Available at: https://www.moef.gov.in/ (Accessed: 16 August 2026).

5. Thesis or Dissertation Format

Author Surname, Initial(s). (Year) Title of thesis. Degree thesis. University.

Example:

Verma, P. (2022) Studies on medicinal plants of northern India. PhD thesis. University of Delhi.

6. Conference Paper/Proceedings Example

Singh, P. (2023) ‘Climate change and agricultural sustainability’, in Kumar, R. (ed.) Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Agriculture. New Delhi: Academic Publishers, pp. 75–82.

Reprints

No free reprints will be supplied. However, reprints may be supplied to the author/authors on charges @ ₹150/- per printed page for 50 reprints. Extra reprints, if needed, should be ordered and will be supplied on advance payment.

Reprint requirements should be indicated at the time of acceptance of manuscripts.

Editor-in-Chief (Agri Phytologica Insights)
Dr. Subhash Kumar

Published & Printed by
Learning Media Publication

A-16, Aman Vihar, Mawana Road, Opp. J.P. Academy, Meerut-250001

Contact No.: +91-8449001390, 8791976106
E-mail: agriphytologica@gmail.com
Website: https://journal.learningmedia.in/index.php/api
https://learningmedia.in

1. Article Processing and Publication Charge Policy

Agri Phytologica Insights follows a transparent article processing and publication charge policy. The journal does not charge authors any fee for the initial submission of a manuscript.

1.1. Manuscript Submission

There is no submission fee for submitting a manuscript to Agri Phytologica Insights. All manuscripts are subject to editorial screening and peer review according to the journal's established editorial procedures.

1.2. Processing and Publication Charge

For manuscripts accepted for publication, a processing and publication charge of ₹3000 (Indian Rupees) per final article is applicable.

1.3. When the Charge is Payable

The processing and publication charge is payable only after the manuscript has been formally accepted for publication.

Authors will be informed of the applicable amount and payment procedure after acceptance.

1.4. Editorial Independence

Payment of the processing and publication charge does not influence the editorial decision, peer-review process or acceptance of a manuscript. Editorial decisions are based on the scientific quality, originality, relevance, ethical standards and overall suitability of the manuscript for the journal.

1.5. No Guarantee of Acceptance

Payment of any publication-related charge does not guarantee acceptance or publication of a manuscript. A manuscript may be rejected at any stage if it does not satisfy the journal's editorial, scientific, ethical or publication requirements.

1.6. Waiver or Reduction

Authors who face genuine financial difficulties may submit a written request for a partial or full waiver of the processing charge. Requests will be considered by the editorial office on a case-by-case basis and, where appropriate, independently of the editorial decision.

1.7. Transparency of Charges

The journal does not require authors to make payments to individual editors or reviewers. All official payments should be made only through the payment method communicated by the journal's editorial or publishing office.

1.8. Refund Policy

Once publication-related production work has commenced, processing charges are generally non-refundable. Any exceptional refund request will be considered by the publisher on a case-by-case basis.

Current Publication Charge: ₹3000 per final published article

Submission Fee: Nil

Payment Stage: After acceptance

2. Peer Review Policy

Agri Phytologica Insights follows a rigorous and transparent peer-review process to ensure the scientific quality, originality, relevance and integrity of articles published in the journal. All manuscripts are evaluated by qualified reviewers with appropriate expertise in the subject area.

2.1. Initial Editorial Screening

All manuscripts submitted to Agri Phytologica Insights are first examined by the Editorial Office for:

  • Relevance to the aims and scope of the journal.
  • Basic scientific and academic quality.
  • Originality and plagiarism concerns.
  • Compliance with the journal's author guidelines.
  • Ethical and publication requirements.
  • Completeness of the submitted manuscript and accompanying information.

Manuscripts that do not meet the basic requirements may be returned to the authors or rejected before external peer review.

2.2. Peer Review Process

Manuscripts that pass the initial editorial screening are sent for peer review by qualified experts in the relevant field.

Reviewers are requested to evaluate the manuscript objectively and provide constructive comments concerning, where applicable:

  • Originality and scientific contribution.
  • Scientific validity and methodology.
  • Accuracy and clarity of results.
  • Interpretation and discussion.
  • Quality of tables, figures and supporting information.
  • Appropriateness of references.
  • Ethical considerations.
  • Overall suitability for publication.

2.3. Reviewer Selection

Reviewers are selected by the Editor or Editorial Office based on their subject expertise, research experience and suitability for evaluating the submitted manuscript.

Reviewers should have no personal, professional or financial conflict of interest with the authors or the research under consideration.

2.4. Confidentiality

Manuscripts submitted for peer review are treated as confidential documents. Reviewers must not share, reproduce, distribute or use unpublished information from a manuscript for personal or professional purposes.

The identities of reviewers are not disclosed to authors unless otherwise stated by the journal.

2.5. Editorial Decision

Following peer review, the Editor-in-Chief or designated Editor makes the final editorial decision. Possible decisions include:

  • Accept
  • Minor Revision
  • Major Revision
  • Reject

Where revisions are requested, authors must submit a revised manuscript together with a clear response to the reviewers' comments.

2.6. Revised Manuscripts

A revised manuscript may be returned to the original reviewers for further evaluation when necessary. Submission of a revised manuscript does not guarantee acceptance.

Authors are expected to address reviewers' comments carefully and explain any disagreement with a reviewer's recommendation in a respectful and scientifically justified manner.

2.7. Multiple Reviewers

The journal normally seeks evaluation from at least two independent reviewers whenever appropriate. However, the number of reviewers may vary depending on the subject, manuscript type, availability of suitable reviewers and editorial circumstances.

2.8. Review Time

The Editorial Office makes reasonable efforts to process manuscripts and obtain peer reviews in a timely manner. However, review times may vary depending on reviewer availability, manuscript complexity and the need to identify appropriate subject experts.

2.9. Reviewer Recommendations

Reviewers provide recommendations and comments to assist the editorial decision-making process. The Editor is not required to follow a reviewer's recommendation and retains responsibility for the final decision.

2.10. Appeals

Authors who believe that an editorial decision was based on a significant misunderstanding or serious procedural error may submit a written appeal to the Editorial Office.

Appeals should provide clear and specific reasons and, where applicable, supporting evidence. An appeal does not guarantee reversal of the original decision.

2.11. Editorial Independence

Peer-review and editorial decisions are based on the scientific and academic merits of the manuscript. Payment of any processing or publication charge does not influence peer review or editorial decisions.

The journal does not guarantee publication on the basis of payment of any fee.

2.12. Reviewer Ethics

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Maintain confidentiality.
  • Provide objective and constructive assessments.
  • Declare any potential conflict of interest.
  • Avoid discriminatory or offensive comments.
  • Not use unpublished information for personal advantage.
  • Notify the Editor of any suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication, fabrication or other research misconduct.
  • Complete reviews within the agreed timeframe or inform the Editorial Office if additional time is required.

Peer Review Model: Expert peer review
Typical Number of Reviewers: Two or more, where appropriate
Final Editorial Authority: Editor-in-Chief / designated Editor

3. Publication Ethics Policy

Agri Phytologica Insights is committed to maintaining high standards of publication ethics and research integrity. The journal expects authors, editors, reviewers and the publisher to follow ethical principles throughout the submission, peer-review, publication and post-publication processes.

This policy is intended to promote responsible research and publication practices and to protect the integrity and credibility of the scientific record.

3.1. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for ensuring that:

  • The submitted manuscript represents original work.
  • The research has been conducted honestly and responsibly.
  • All data, results and information presented in the manuscript are accurate to the best of the authors' knowledge.
  • Sources and previous research are appropriately acknowledged and cited.
  • The manuscript has not been published previously in substantially the same form.
  • The manuscript is not simultaneously under consideration by another journal.
  • All individuals who qualify for authorship are appropriately listed as authors.
  • All listed authors have approved the final version of the manuscript.
  • Any relevant financial, personal or institutional conflicts of interest are disclosed.
  • Appropriate ethical approval or permissions have been obtained where required.

Authors must promptly inform the Editorial Office if a significant error is discovered in their published article.

3.2. Originality and Plagiarism

Manuscripts submitted to Agri Phytologica Insights must be original and must not contain plagiarized material.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

  • Copying text, ideas, data or other material without appropriate acknowledgement.
  • Presenting another person's work as one's own.
  • Substantial unattributed reproduction of previously published material.
  • Duplicate or redundant publication.

The Editorial Office may use plagiarism-detection tools and editorial assessment to identify potential plagiarism or other forms of inappropriate text reuse.

Manuscripts containing serious plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct may be rejected. Where misconduct is identified after publication, the journal may issue a correction, expression of concern or retraction, as appropriate.

3.3. Fabrication and Falsification

The journal does not tolerate fabrication or falsification of research.

Fabrication means making up data, results, observations or other research information.

Falsification includes manipulating, altering, omitting or misrepresenting research materials, data, results or images in a way that may mislead readers.

Suspected cases may be investigated and appropriate action may be taken, including rejection, correction or retraction.

3.4. Duplicate and Simultaneous Submission

Authors must not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal at the same time.

A manuscript that has already been published, or is substantially similar to a previously published article, should not be submitted as an original research article unless the nature of the prior publication is clearly disclosed and the submission is ethically justified.

3.5. Authorship and Contribution

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made a substantial contribution to the research and manuscript.

All authors should:

  • Make a meaningful contribution to the work.
  • Participate in drafting or critically revising the manuscript.
  • Approve the final version.
  • Accept responsibility for the integrity of the work.

Individuals who have provided general assistance but do not qualify for authorship should be appropriately acknowledged.

Any change in authorship after submission requires an appropriate explanation and consent from all affected authors.

3.6. Conflict of Interest

Authors, reviewers and editors must disclose any financial, professional, personal or institutional relationship that could influence, or reasonably appear to influence, the research or editorial process.

Where no conflict exists, authors may state:

“The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.”

Editors and reviewers with a relevant conflict of interest should not participate in the evaluation or decision-making process for the affected manuscript.

3.7. Ethical Approval and Research Conduct

Research involving humans, animals or other regulated biological materials must comply with applicable ethical, institutional and legal requirements.

Where ethical approval, informed consent, institutional permission or other authorization is required, authors should provide appropriate information in the manuscript and be prepared to provide supporting documentation if requested.

3.8. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are expected to:

  • Evaluate manuscripts fairly and objectively.
  • Base editorial decisions on scientific quality, relevance, originality and ethical considerations.
  • Maintain confidentiality during the editorial and peer-review process.
  • Select appropriate and independent reviewers.
  • Manage conflicts of interest appropriately.
  • Investigate credible allegations of publication misconduct.
  • Correct the published record when significant errors or ethical concerns are identified.
  • Ensure that commercial considerations do not improperly influence editorial decisions.

Editors must not use unpublished information obtained through the editorial process for personal or professional advantage.

3.9. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of manuscripts and provide objective, constructive and scientifically appropriate assessments.

Reviewers should:

  • Declare potential conflicts of interest.
  • Avoid using unpublished information for personal benefit.
  • Identify relevant published work that has not been appropriately cited where necessary.
  • Inform the Editor of suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication or other ethical concerns.
  • Complete reviews within the agreed timeframe or inform the Editorial Office if they cannot do so.

3.10. Complaints and Allegations of Misconduct

The Editorial Office will consider credible allegations concerning publication ethics or research misconduct.

Concerns may involve:

  • Plagiarism
  • Fabrication or falsification
  • Duplicate publication
  • Authorship disputes
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest
  • Manipulation of figures or data
  • Citation manipulation
  • Peer-review manipulation
  • Other forms of unethical research or publication practice

The journal may request explanations or supporting information from the authors and, where appropriate, contact the relevant institution or organization.

3.11. Corrections, Retractions and Expressions of Concern

The journal is committed to maintaining an accurate scholarly record.

If a significant error is identified after publication, the journal may publish an appropriate correction.

If an article is found to contain serious errors, unreliable results, plagiarism, fabricated or falsified data, or other serious ethical problems, the journal may retract the article.

Where an investigation is ongoing and concerns are sufficiently serious, the journal may publish an Expression of Concern.

3.12. Ethical Handling of Manuscript Fees

The journal maintains a clear separation between editorial decisions and publication charges.

No submission fee is charged. For accepted manuscripts, the applicable processing and publication charge is ₹300 per final published page. Payment of this charge does not guarantee acceptance and does not influence peer review or editorial decisions.

3.13. Use of Artificial Intelligence

Authors may use appropriate artificial intelligence tools for language improvement, grammar correction or other legitimate assistance. However, authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity and final content of their manuscript.

AI tools cannot be listed as authors. Any substantive use of generative AI in manuscript preparation should be disclosed where appropriate.

3.14. Editorial Independence and Integrity

The Editorial Office of Agri Phytologica Insights is committed to maintaining editorial independence. Decisions concerning manuscripts should be based on academic and scientific considerations rather than financial interests, personal relationships, institutional affiliations or other inappropriate influences.

3.15. Commitment to Research Integrity

Agri Phytologica Insights encourages authors, reviewers and editors to uphold honesty, transparency, accountability and responsible conduct throughout the publication process.

The journal reserves the right to take appropriate action whenever credible evidence of unethical research or publication practice is identified.

4. Plagiarism Policy

Agri Phytologica Insights is committed to maintaining originality and academic integrity in all published work. Manuscripts submitted to the journal must be original and must properly acknowledge the work, ideas, data and words of others.

4.1 Plagiarism

Plagiarism includes presenting another person's words, ideas, data, figures, tables or other intellectual work as one's own without appropriate acknowledgement.

The journal considers the following unacceptable:

  • Direct copying of text without quotation or appropriate citation.
  • Paraphrasing another person's work without proper attribution.
  • Copying or reproducing figures, tables, images or data without permission or acknowledgement.
  • Submitting another person's manuscript or research as one's own.
  • Substantial reuse of an author's own previously published material without appropriate disclosure and citation.

4.2 Similarity Checking

Manuscripts may be checked using plagiarism-detection software and/or editorial assessment before or during the peer-review process.

A similarity score alone will not automatically determine whether plagiarism has occurred. The Editorial Office will consider the nature, extent and source of the matching material.

4.3 Action in Cases of Plagiarism

Where plagiarism is suspected, the Editorial Office may request an explanation from the authors and supporting information where necessary.

Depending on the seriousness of the case, the journal may:

  • Return the manuscript for correction.
  • Reject the manuscript.
  • Notify the author's institution where appropriate.
  • Publish a correction or retraction if the article has already been published.
  • Take other appropriate action to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

Authors remain responsible for ensuring that their submitted work is original and properly referenced.

5. Authorship Policy

Agri Phytologica Insights follows responsible authorship practices and expects all listed authors to have made a meaningful contribution to the research and manuscript.

5.1 Criteria for Authorship

An author should have made a substantial contribution to one or more of the following:

  • Conception or design of the study.
  • Acquisition, analysis or interpretation of data.
  • Development or application of methodology.
  • Preparation or substantial intellectual revision of the manuscript.

All authors must have participated sufficiently in the work to take responsibility for the appropriate parts of the research.

5.2 Responsibilities of Authors

All listed authors must:

  • Approve the final manuscript.
  • Agree to its submission.
  • Agree to the authorship order.
  • Take responsibility for the integrity of their contribution.
  • Cooperate with the journal if questions concerning the article arise.

5.3 Corresponding Author

The corresponding author is responsible for communication with the Editorial Office and should ensure that:

  • All authors have approved the manuscript.
  • All authors are aware of the submission.
  • Author information is accurate.
  • Required declarations have been provided.

5.4 Changes in Authorship

Requests to add, remove or rearrange authors after submission must include a written explanation and the agreement of all affected authors.

The Editorial Office may request written confirmation from all authors before approving an authorship change.

5.5 Contributors

Individuals who contributed to the work but do not meet the criteria for authorship may be acknowledged appropriately with their permission.

6. Conflict of Interest Policy

Agri Phytologica Insights requires authors, editors and reviewers to disclose relationships or circumstances that could influence, or reasonably appear to influence, their professional judgment.

6.1 Authors

Authors should disclose relevant:

  • Financial interests.
  • Employment or consultancy relationships.
  • Institutional relationships.
  • Personal relationships.
  • Research funding.
  • Patents or commercial interests.
  • Other circumstances that could create a potential conflict.

Where no conflict exists, authors may state:

“The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.”

6.2 Editors

Editors must not participate in editorial decisions where they have a personal, professional, financial or institutional conflict of interest.

Such manuscripts should be handled by an appropriate independent editor whenever possible.

6.3 Reviewers

Reviewers should decline to review a manuscript if they have a conflict that could affect their objectivity.

Reviewers must inform the Editor of any potential conflict before accepting the assignment.

6.4 Undisclosed Conflicts

If a significant undisclosed conflict is identified after publication, the journal may investigate the matter and take appropriate action, including publication of a correction or other editorial notice where necessary.

7. Copyright and Licensing Policy

Agri Phytologica Insights respects the intellectual property rights of authors and promotes responsible dissemination of scholarly work.

7.1 Copyright

Authors should retain the rights applicable to their work unless a separate written publishing agreement states otherwise.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that they have the necessary rights and permissions for third-party material included in their manuscript.

7.2 Open Licence

Where the journal publishes an article under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence, readers may share and adapt the work in accordance with the terms of that licence, provided appropriate credit is given to the original authors and source.

The applicable licence will be clearly identified on the published article.

7.3 Author Rights

Subject to the applicable licence and publishing agreement, authors may share and disseminate their published work in accordance with the journal's copyright terms.

7.4 Third-Party Material

Authors must obtain permission where required for copyrighted material belonging to third parties.

The responsibility for obtaining such permission rests with the authors.

8. Open Access Policy

Agri Phytologica Insights is committed to providing open access to its published scholarly content.

8.1 Free Access

Published articles are made freely accessible online to readers without subscription charges.

Readers can access, read and use published research subject to the copyright and licensing conditions associated with each article.

8.2 Author Charges

The journal does not charge a fee for manuscript submission.

For manuscripts accepted for publication, a processing and publication charge of ₹300 per final published page is applicable.

Payment of the publication charge does not influence peer review or editorial decisions.

8.3 Accessibility

The journal aims to make published articles available through its online journal platform and to improve the discoverability and accessibility of its scholarly content.

8.4 Long-Term Access

The journal is committed to maintaining access to its published scholarly record and developing appropriate digital preservation and archiving arrangements.

9. Corrections, Retractions and Withdrawal Policy

Agri Phytologica Insights is committed to maintaining an accurate and reliable published record.

9.1 Corrections

A correction may be issued when an error in a published article affects the accuracy or understanding of the article but does not invalidate the overall research.

Corrections may include errors in:

  • Author information.
  • Affiliations.
  • Tables or figures.
  • Text.
  • References.
  • Other published information.

9.2 Retractions

An article may be retracted where there is substantial evidence that:

  • The findings are unreliable.
  • Data have been fabricated or falsified.
  • Significant plagiarism has occurred.
  • The article has been published elsewhere improperly.
  • Serious ethical violations have occurred.
  • There is another major problem affecting the integrity of the published work.

A retracted article will normally remain part of the journal's published record with a clear retraction notice.

9.3 Expressions of Concern

Where serious concerns exist but an investigation has not yet been completed, the journal may publish an Expression of Concern.

9.4 Withdrawal Before Publication

Authors may request withdrawal of a manuscript before publication by contacting the Editorial Office.

A withdrawal request should provide the manuscript details and a clear reason.

9.5 Withdrawal After Acceptance

After acceptance, withdrawal requests may be considered where there is a legitimate reason. If production or publication work has already begun, the journal may determine whether withdrawal is appropriate.

9.6 Published Articles

Published articles will not normally be removed from the journal website merely because an author requests removal. Where necessary, an appropriate correction, retraction or editorial notice will be used to maintain the scholarly record.

10. Research Integrity and Misconduct Policy

Agri Phytologica Insights is committed to protecting the integrity of scientific research and publication.

10.1 Research Misconduct

Research misconduct may include:

  • Fabrication of data.
  • Falsification of data or results.
  • Plagiarism.
  • Manipulation or inappropriate alteration of images.
  • Duplicate or redundant publication.
  • Manipulation of authorship.
  • Citation manipulation.
  • Peer-review manipulation.
  • Failure to disclose significant conflicts of interest.
  • Conducting research without required ethical approval.
  • Other serious violations of responsible research practice.

10.2 Investigation

When credible concerns are raised, the Editorial Office may conduct a preliminary assessment.

Authors may be asked to provide:

  • Original data.
  • Research records.
  • Ethical approval information.
  • Permission documents.
  • Clarification of authorship.
  • Explanations regarding suspected misconduct.

Where appropriate, the journal may contact the relevant institution or research organization.

10.3 Action

Depending on the circumstances, the journal may:

  • Request clarification.
  • Reject the manuscript.
  • Suspend publication.
  • Issue a correction.
  • Publish an Expression of Concern.
  • Retract a published article.
  • Notify an appropriate institution or authority.

The action taken will depend on the nature and seriousness of the concern.

10.4 Protection of the Scholarly Record

The primary objective of this policy is to ensure that the published scientific record remains accurate, transparent and trustworthy.

11. AI and Generative AI Policy

Agri Phytologica Insights recognizes that artificial intelligence and generative AI tools may be used as research and writing aids. However, their use must not compromise research integrity, originality, transparency or author responsibility.

11.1 Acceptable Uses

Authors may use AI-based tools for appropriate purposes such as:

  • Grammar and language improvement.
  • Spelling and formatting assistance.
  • Improving clarity of language.
  • Assistance with non-substantive editorial tasks.

11.2 Author Responsibility

Authors remain fully responsible for the submitted manuscript, including:

  • Accuracy of information.
  • Originality.
  • References and citations.
  • Data and results.
  • Research conclusions.
  • Ethical compliance.

AI-generated content must be carefully checked by the authors.

11.3 AI Cannot Be an Author

Artificial intelligence tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors because they cannot take responsibility for the research, approve the final manuscript or respond to ethical concerns.

11.4 Disclosure

Where generative AI has been used substantially in preparing the manuscript, authors should disclose the nature and purpose of its use.

11.5 Confidentiality

Authors, reviewers and editors should not upload confidential manuscripts, unpublished research data or other sensitive editorial material to external AI systems where doing so could compromise confidentiality or intellectual property.

11.6 Fabricated References

Authors are responsible for verifying all AI-assisted references, citations, facts and statements. Fabricated or inaccurate references generated by AI are unacceptable.

12. Data Availability Policy

Agri Phytologica Insights supports transparency and reproducibility of scientific research.

12.1 Data Sharing

Authors are encouraged to make relevant research data, materials and supporting information available where possible.

Data should be shared subject to:

  • Ethical requirements.
  • Privacy and confidentiality.
  • Legal restrictions.
  • Institutional policies.
  • Intellectual property considerations.

12.2 Data Availability Statement

Where appropriate, authors should include a Data Availability Statement in their manuscript.

Examples include:

“The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.”

or

“All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article and its supplementary information.”

Where data cannot be shared, authors should explain the applicable restriction.

12.3 Responsibility for Data

Authors are responsible for maintaining appropriate records and supporting data for their research and should be prepared to provide reasonable clarification or documentation if requested by the Editorial Office.

12.4 Sensitive Data

Research data containing personal, confidential or sensitive information must not be publicly released where doing so would violate ethical, legal or privacy requirements.

13. Complaints and Appeals Policy

Agri Phytologica Insights aims to handle complaints and appeals fairly, transparently and promptly.

13.1 Editorial Appeals

Authors may appeal an editorial decision where they believe that:

  • A significant factual misunderstanding occurred.
  • Important information was overlooked.
  • There was a serious procedural error.
  • There is evidence that the decision was inconsistent with the journal's stated editorial procedures.

Appeals should include a clear explanation and supporting information.

13.2 Complaints

Complaints may concern:

  • Editorial decisions or procedures.
  • Peer-review conduct.
  • Publication ethics.
  • Authorship.
  • Conflicts of interest.
  • Publication charges.
  • Copyright or licensing.
  • Editorial misconduct.

13.3 Submission of Complaints

Complaints should be submitted in writing to the Editorial Office or Editor-in-Chief with sufficient details to allow the matter to be investigated.

13.4 Investigation

The journal may request additional information from the complainant, authors, reviewers or other relevant parties.

Where appropriate, the journal may refer the matter to the relevant institution or organization.

13.5 Appeals and Final Decisions

An appeal is not a guarantee that the original decision will be changed. The final decision following an appropriate appeal or investigation will be communicated to the concerned party.

The journal will not tolerate harassment, threats or abusive communication directed toward editors, reviewers, authors or staff.

14. Editorial Independence Policy

Agri Phytologica Insights is committed to maintaining editorial independence and ensuring that editorial decisions are based on academic and scientific considerations.

14.1 Independent Editorial Decisions

Editorial decisions should be based primarily on:

  • Scientific quality.
  • Originality.
  • Relevance to the journal's scope.
  • Methodological soundness.
  • Ethical standards.
  • Contribution to the field.

14.2 Financial Independence

Payment of an article processing or publication charge does not guarantee acceptance or publication.

The journal's ₹300 per final published page charge is separate from the editorial and peer-review decision-making process.

14.3 Publisher and Editorial Office

The publisher may provide administrative, technical and financial support to the journal, but editorial decisions should remain under the responsibility of the Editor-in-Chief and authorized editorial personnel.

14.4 Conflicts of Interest

Editors must disclose and appropriately manage conflicts of interest.

An editor should not make an editorial decision on a manuscript where they have a significant personal, professional, financial or institutional conflict.

14.5 Protection from External Influence

Authors, institutions, sponsors, advertisers or other external parties must not improperly influence editorial decisions.

The journal reserves the right to reject or discontinue any publication-related arrangement that compromises editorial independence or research integrity.

15. Archiving and Digital Preservation Policy

Agri Phytologica Insights recognizes the importance of maintaining long-term access to its published scholarly record.

15.1 Preservation of Published Content

The journal aims to preserve published articles, issues, metadata and associated publication records so that they remain accessible over the long term.

15.2 Online Journal Platform

Published content is maintained through the journal's online publishing platform, including its OJS-based journal website.

The Editorial Office and Publisher will take reasonable measures to protect published content from accidental loss or unauthorized alteration.

15.3 Backup

The journal and publisher should maintain appropriate backups of:

  • Published articles.
  • PDF files.
  • Article metadata.
  • Issue information.
  • Author information.
  • Editorial and publication records where appropriate.

15.4 Digital Preservation Services

Where technically and operationally available, the journal may participate in recognized digital preservation services such as LOCKSS, CLOCKSS, the PKP Preservation Network or other suitable preservation systems.

The journal will update this policy when formal participation in a specific preservation service is established.

15.5 Persistent Access

The journal intends to maintain stable URLs and persistent identifiers, including DOI links where applicable, to facilitate continued access to published articles.

15.6 Preservation of the Scholarly Record

Articles that have been corrected or retracted will normally remain identifiable in the journal's archive, with an appropriate correction or retraction notice, rather than being silently removed.

15.7 Future Preservation Arrangements

As the journal develops, additional recognized indexing, archiving and digital preservation services may be adopted to strengthen the long-term preservation and discoverability of its published content.