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Original Research

Original Research articles present novel findings from primary experimental studies, field trials, observational research, or validated modeling approaches in agricultural sciences, livestock production, natural resource management, and conservation.

SCOPE: We accept manuscripts reporting original data in animal production and nutrition, crop science, agroforestry systems, sustainable agriculture, animal genetics, forage management, soil science, agricultural economics, climate change adaptation, biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, and precision agriculture.

MANUSCRIPT REQUIREMENTS:
- Structure: IMRaD format (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion)
- Length: 5,000-8,000 words (excluding references, tables, figures)
- Abstract: 200-300 words, structured format
- Keywords: 4-6 terms, preferably from AGROVOC thesaurus
- References: Minimum 25, at least 60% from last 5 years, APA 7th Edition
- Tables/Figures: Maximum 6 each (additional as supplementary material)
- Language: Professional English editing required

SCIENTIFIC RIGOR:
- Appropriate experimental design with adequate replication
- Proper statistical analysis and reporting
- Reproducible methodology
- Data availability upon reasonable request
- Ethical compliance (animal ethics approval when applicable)

BIOECONOMIC RELEVANCE: Manuscripts should address practical applicability, economic implications, scalability, and environmental sustainability alongside productivity.

PEER REVIEW: Double-blind peer review by minimum 2 independent experts. Manuscripts undergo initial desk review for scope, scientific rigor, English quality, and formatting compliance.

ETHICS: Authors must certify originality, declare conflicts of interest, and adhere to COPE guidelines. Similarity index must be <15%.

SUBMISSION: Anonymous manuscript file, separate title page with authors/affiliations/ORCID, cover letter, and declaration of originality required.

El límite máximo del manuscrito completo, excluyendo referencias es de 8000 palabras

For complete guidelines, see Author Instructions at www.agrobiosystems.org

Review Articles

Review Articles provide a comprehensive, critical synthesis of existing knowledge on specific topics within agricultural sciences, livestock production systems, natural resource management, and conservation. Reviews must go beyond simple literature compilation to offer novel insights, identify knowledge gaps, and propose future research directions.

SCOPE: We accept systematic reviews, meta-analyses, narrative reviews, and scoping reviews addressing current challenges and advances in animal production and nutrition, crop science, agroforestry systems, sustainable agriculture, animal genetics and breeding, forage management, soil science, agricultural economics, climate change adaptation, ecosystem services, and precision agriculture.

TYPES OF REVIEWS ACCEPTED:
- Systematic Reviews: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines with comprehensive search strategy
- Meta-analyses: Quantitative synthesis with statistical pooling of results
- Narrative Reviews: Critical synthesis of literature on emerging or complex topics
- Scoping Reviews: Mapping existing evidence and identifying research gaps

MANUSCRIPT REQUIREMENTS:
- Structure: Introduction, Search Methodology (for systematic reviews), Thematic Development (3-6 main sections), Future Perspectives, Conclusions
- Length: 8,000-12,000 words (may exceed if justified)
- Abstract: 200-300 words, structured format including context, objective, search methodology, main findings, and knowledge gaps
- Keywords: 4-6 terms, preferably from AGROVOC thesaurus
- References: Minimum 60-100, at least 70% from last 5 years, APA 7th Edition
- Tables/Figures: 4-8 typical (synthesis tables, PRISMA diagrams, meta-analysis forest plots)
- Language: Professional English editing required

MANDATORY ELEMENTS FOR SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS:
- Search Methodology section with databases consulted, search terms with Boolean operators, temporal period, inclusion/exclusion criteria
- PRISMA 2020 flow diagram (Figure 1)
- Total number of studies identified, screened, and included
- Data extraction methodology
- Quality assessment of included studies (when applicable)
- Synthesis approach (qualitative narrative and/or quantitative meta-analysis)

CONTENT ORGANIZATION:
- Introduction: Broad context, justification for review NOW, gap this review fills, specific objectives, document structure (600-1,000 words)
- Search Methodology: Transparent and replicable process (600-1,200 words) - MANDATORY for systematic reviews
- Thematic Development: Organized by concepts, not chronologically. Each section with quantitative synthesis, patterns, controversies, critical analysis (5,000-8,000 words)
- Future Perspectives: Structured identification of knowledge gaps with prioritization and methodological recommendations (800-1,200 words)
- Conclusions: Synthesis of main findings, consensus achieved, unresolved controversies, practical implications (400-600 words)

CRITICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must synthesize literature, not just list studies
- Quantitative synthesis whenever possible (ranges, medians, frequencies)
- Critical analysis of methodological quality, not just reporting findings
- Identification of both consensus AND controversies
- Specific, prioritized knowledge gaps (not generic "more research needed")
- Practical implications for policy or practice

TABLES AND FIGURES:
- Table 1 (mandatory for systematic reviews): Characteristics of included studies
- Quantitative synthesis tables by variable
- PRISMA flow diagram (mandatory for systematic reviews)
- Forest plots for meta-analyses
- Geographic distribution maps
- Conceptual frameworks

BIOECONOMIC RELEVANCE: Reviews should address practical applicability, economic implications, scalability potential, and policy relevance alongside scientific findings.

PEER REVIEW: Double-blind peer review by minimum 2 independent experts with expertise in the review topic. Initial desk review evaluates: scope fit, methodological transparency (for systematic reviews), critical analysis depth, synthesis quality, and English quality.

ETHICS: Authors must certify originality, declare conflicts of interest, disclose funding sources, and adhere to COPE guidelines. Similarity index must be <15%. Reviews with commercial bias or undisclosed conflicts will be rejected.

SUBMISSION: Anonymous manuscript file, separate title page with authors/affiliations/ORCID, cover letter explaining unique contribution of this review, and declaration of originality required. Supplementary file with complete list of included studies recommended.

EVALUATION CRITERIA:
- Comprehensiveness of literature search (for systematic reviews)
- Critical analysis and synthesis quality
- Identification of knowledge gaps and future directions
- Clarity of presentation and logical organization
- Practical relevance and implications
- Quality of tables and figures for synthesis
- Professional English quality

For complete guidelines and template, see Review Article Template at www.agrobiosystems.org

Short Communications

Short Communications present concise reports of original research findings that are complete but limited in scope, preliminary but significant results, novel methodologies or techniques, timely observations, or brief reports on topics of immediate interest to the agricultural sciences community.

SCOPE: We accept short communications reporting preliminary findings, methodological innovations, time-sensitive observations, or focused studies in animal production and nutrition, crop science, agroforestry systems, sustainable agriculture, animal genetics and breeding, forage management, soil science, agricultural economics, climate change impacts, biodiversity conservation, and precision agriculture.

APPROPRIATE CONTENT FOR SHORT COMMUNICATIONS:
- Preliminary results from ongoing research of significant interest
- Novel techniques, protocols, or methodological improvements
- Brief reports on emerging issues or time-sensitive observations
- Focused studies addressing a specific, narrow research question
- Validation studies of new equipment or analytical methods
- Short-term trials or pilot studies with practical implications
- Negative results of high scientific value
- Rapid communication of findings with immediate practical relevance

NOT APPROPRIATE (submit as Original Research instead):
- Complete, comprehensive studies
- Research requiring extensive methodological description
- Studies with multiple objectives or complex experimental designs
- Research requiring >4 tables or figures to present results adequately

MANUSCRIPT REQUIREMENTS:
- Structure: Condensed format - Introduction (brief), Methods (concise), Results and Discussion (combined), Conclusions (optional but recommended)
- Length: 2,000-3,500 words maximum (including everything except references)
- Abstract: 150-200 words, unstructured format
- Keywords: 4-6 terms, preferably from AGROVOC thesaurus
- References: Maximum 20-25 references, recent and highly relevant
- Tables AND Figures combined: Maximum 4 total (choose most essential)
- Language: Professional English editing required

STRUCTURE AND FORMAT:

Introduction (200-400 words):
- Brief context establishing importance
- Specific knowledge gap or problem
- Clear objective (1-2 sentences)
- Minimal literature review (5-8 key references)

Materials and Methods (400-800 words):
- Concise but complete description allowing replication
- Essential details only
- Standard methods cited, not described in detail
- Statistical analysis briefly stated
- Animal ethics approval number (when applicable)

Results and Discussion (800-1,500 words):
- COMBINED section (not separate)
- Present key findings with immediate interpretation
- Compare with relevant literature concisely
- Explain mechanisms briefly
- Acknowledge main limitations
- Highlight practical implications

Conclusions (100-200 words - optional):
- May be integrated into final paragraph of Results and Discussion
- If separate: concise synthesis of main findings and implications

TABLES AND FIGURES:
- Maximum 4 items total (tables + figures combined)
- Each must present essential information
- High quality: tables editable, figures minimum 300 dpi
- Self-explanatory with complete captions
- Supplementary materials accepted for additional data

ABSTRACT FORMAT (150-200 words):
Unlike Original Research, Short Communications use unstructured abstract:
- 1-2 sentences: context and objective
- 2-3 sentences: methods (very brief)
- 3-4 sentences: main results
- 1-2 sentences: conclusions and implications
- No subheadings within abstract

CRITICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Findings must be complete for the scope presented
- Methodology must be sufficiently detailed for replication
- Results must be scientifically sound with appropriate statistics
- Discussion must be focused and concise
- Practical relevance should be evident

SCIENTIFIC RIGOR:
- Appropriate experimental design for the research question
- Adequate sample size (statistical justification in Methods)
- Proper statistical analysis and reporting
- Clear presentation of results with measures of dispersion
- Reproducible methodology

LENGTH ENFORCEMENT:
- Strict word limit: 3,500 words maximum (excluding references, tables, figures)
- Count includes: title, abstract, keywords, all text sections, table/figure captions, acknowledgments
- Manuscripts exceeding limit will be returned without review
- Authors may be invited to resubmit as Original Research if scope warrants

BIOECONOMIC RELEVANCE: Even brief communications should address practical applicability, cost-effectiveness when relevant, and potential for adoption or scaling.

PEER REVIEW: 
- Double-blind peer review by minimum 2 independent reviewers
- Faster review timeline (target 3-5 weeks) due to timely nature
- Desk review evaluates: appropriateness for Short Communication format, completeness of findings, scientific rigor, English quality, adherence to word limit

DECISION CRITERIA:
- Scientific soundness and rigor
- Novelty and significance of findings
- Appropriateness for short format (not requiring full-length article)
- Clarity and conciseness of presentation
- Practical relevance
- Quality of English

CONVERSION TO ORIGINAL RESEARCH:
If during review the manuscript is deemed too substantial for Short Communication but scientifically sound, editors may invite authors to expand and resubmit as Original Research article.

ETHICS: Authors must certify originality, declare conflicts of interest, and adhere to COPE guidelines. Similarity index must be <15%. Short Communications are NOT for fragmenting larger studies into multiple publications (salami slicing).

SUBMISSION: Anonymous manuscript file, separate title page with authors/affiliations/ORCID, cover letter explaining why short format is appropriate, and declaration of originality required.

FORMATTING:
- File type: .docx
- Font: Times New Roman or Arial, 12 pt
- Line spacing: 1.5
- Margins: 2.5 cm all sides
- Page numbers: bottom center
- Line numbers: continuous

For complete guidelines, see Author Instructions at www.agrobiosystems.org