MDPI’s Journal Cluster of Agricultural Science
The transition to sedentary, agriculture-based societies was the main catalyst in human history that facilitated the establishment of stable communities and the emergence of complex civilizations. Today, as we face the systemic pressures of climate change, resource depletion, and a burgeoning global population, agriculture remains the fundamental driver of human survival and societal stability. Addressing these new challenges requires a transition toward resilient production systems, driven by the synergy between soil health, crop innovation, and the use of new technologies required to navigate a shifting environmental landscape.
The agricultural science cluster serves as a strategic hub for researchers dedicated to these advancements. By consolidating these interconnected disciplines, we provide authors with a streamlined editorial pathway that enhances the discoverability and cross-disciplinary impact of their work. This initiative assists the scientific community in navigating the extensive agricultural literature, ensuring that specialized research is positioned alongside relevant studies to maximize visibility and facilitate the translation of theory into field-level solutions.
Our Specialized Journals:
The cluster brings together a diverse range of high-impact journals, each led by distinguished experts in their respective fields:
- Agriculture (ISSN: 2077-0472): A broad-scope journal covering all aspects of agricultural science, from sustainable farming to agricultural economics. Agriculture is led by Prof. Dr. Les Copeland (Sydney Institute of Agriculture, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Australia);
- Agronomy (ISSN: 2073-4395): Focused specifically on field-crop production, agroecology, and management. Agronomy is led by Prof. Dr. Leslie A. Weston (Gulbali Centre for Agriculture, Water and Environment Research, Charles Sturt University, Australia);
- Horticulturae (ISSN: 2311-7524): Focused on the science of high-value crops, including fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. Horticulturae is led by Prof. Dr. Luigi De Bellis (Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), Salento University, Italy);
- Soil Systems (ISSN: 2571-8789): Explores the biological, (bio)chemical, and physical processes within soils and sediments. Soil Systems is led by Prof. Dr. Heike Knicker (Group of Interactions Between Soils, Plants and Microorganisms, Department of Food Biotechnology, Instituto de la Grasa (IG-CSIC), Spain);
- AgriEngineering (ISSN: 2624-7402): An open-source venue for the engineering science behind agricultural production. AgriEngineering is led by Prof. Dr. Francesco Marinello (Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy);
- Crops (ISSN: 2673-7655): Highlights research on the production, improvement, and utilization of food, feed, forage, horticultural, and industrial crops. Crops is led by Prof. Dr. Yinglong Chen (School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Australia);
- Seeds (ISSN: 2674-1024): Dedicated to the biology and technology of seeds, from molecular physiology to priming and production. Seeds is led by Dr. José Antonio Hernández Cortés (Group of Fruit Biotechnology, Department of Fruit Breeding, CEBAS-CSIC, Spain);
- Grasses (ISSN: 2813-3463): Covers fundamental and applied research in grass biology and sustainable cropping systems. Grasses is led by Prof. Dr. Fabio Gresta (Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Italy);
- Agrochemicals (ISSN: 2813-3145): A holistic "farm to fork" look at the chemicals used in the agro-food chain. Agrochemicals is led by Prof. Dr. Christos G. Athanassiou (Laboratory of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Crop Production and Rural Environment, Department of Agriculture, University of Thessaly, Greece);
- AI and Precision Agriculture: At the intersection of technology and agronomy, focusing on AI-driven solutions for modern farming.
|
Journals |
Launch year |
Impact Factor (2024) |
CiteScore (2024) |
First Decision (Median Days) |
Acceptance to Publication (Median Days) |
APC |
 |
2011 |
3.6 |
6.3 |
18.8 |
1.9 |
CHF 2600 |
 |
2011 |
3.4 |
6.7 |
17 |
1.8 |
CHF 2600 |
 |
2015 |
3.0 |
5.1 |
16.7 |
2.6 |
CHF 2200 |
 |
2017 |
3.5 |
5.4 |
29.9 |
3.9 |
CHF 1800 |
 |
2019 |
3.0 |
4.7 |
20.6 |
5.4 |
CHF 1800 |
 |
2021 |
1.9 |
2.4 |
22.4 |
4.2 |
CHF 1200 |
 |
2022 |
/ |
2.8 |
25 |
3.5 |
CHF 1200 |
 |
2022 |
/ |
/ |
26.5 |
12.5 |
CHF 1200 |
 |
2022 |
/ |
/ |
27 |
3.6 |
CHF 1000 |
 |
/ |
/ |
/ |
19 |
8 |
CHF 1000 |
MDPI Mission and Values:
As a pioneer of academic open access publishing, MDPI has served the scientific community since 1996. We aim to foster scientific exchange in all forms across all disciplines. MDPI’s guidelines for disseminating open science are based on the following values and guiding principles:
- Open Access—All of our content is published in open access and distributed under a Creative Commons License, providing free access to science and the latest research, allowing articles to be freely shared and content to be re-used with proper attribution;
- Timeliness and Efficiency—Publishing the latest research through thorough editorial work, ensuring a first decision is provided to authors in under 32 days and papers are published within 7-10 days upon acceptance;
- Simplicity—Offering user-friendly tools and services in one place to enhance the efficiency of our editorial process;
- High-Quality Service—Support scholars and their work by providing a range of options, such as journal publication at mdpi.com, early publication at preprints.org, and conferences on sciforum.net to positively impact research;
- Flexibility—Adapting and developing new tools and services to meet the research community's changing needs, driven by feedback from authors, editors, and readers;
- Rooted in Sustainability—Ensuring long-term preservation of published papers and supporting the future of science through partnerships, sponsorships, and awards.
By adhering to these values and principles, MDPI remains committed to advancing scientific knowledge and promoting open science practices.
Selected Topics:
“Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics, 2nd Edition”
Topic Editors: Prof. Dr. Gianni Barcaccia, Dr. Alessandro Vannozzi, Dr. Fabio Palumbo, Dr. Silvia Farinati and Dr. Francesco Scariolo
Manuscript submission deadline: 30 June 2026
“Soil Health and Nutrient Management for Crop Productivity”
Topic Editors: Dr. Na Li and Prof. Dr. Dorcas H. Franklin
Manuscript submission deadline: 30 September 2026
“Reframing Strategies for a Low Carbon Future in Agricultural Systems”
Topic Editors: Dr. M. Ibrahim Khalil and Prof. Dr. Bruce Osborne
Manuscript submission deadline: 8 October 2026
Selected Articles:
Agriculture
“Sustainable Practices for Enhancing Soil Health and Crop Quality in Modern Agriculture: A Review”
by Denis-Constantin Țopa, Sorin Căpșună, Anca-Elena Calistru and Costică Ailincăi
Agriculture 2025, 15(9), 998; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15090998
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/9/998
Agronomy
“Novel Breeding Techniques and Strategies for Enhancing Greenhouse Vegetable Product Quality”
by Julia Weiss and Nazim S. Gruda
Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 207; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010207
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/1/207
Horticulturae
“Exploring the Grape Agrivoltaic System: Climate Modulation and Vine Benefits in the Puglia Region, Southeastern Italy”
by Andrea Magarelli, Andrea Mazzeo and Giuseppe Ferrara
Horticulturae 2025, 11(2), 160; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11020160
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/2/160
Soil Systems
“Predicting Soil Salinity Based on Soil/Water Extracts in a Semi-Arid Region of Morocco”
by Jamal-Eddine Ouzemou, Ahmed Laamrani, Ali El Battay and Joann K. Whalen
Soil Syst. 2025, 9(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems9010003
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/9/1/3
AgriEngineering
“AI-Driven Cooperative Control for Autonomous Tractors and Implements: A Comprehensive Review”
by Hongjie Jia, Weipeng Chen, Zhihao Su, Yaozu Sun, Zhengpeng Qian and Longxia Huang
AgriEngineering 2025, 7(11), 394; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering7110394
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/7/11/394
Crops
“Advanced High-Throughput Phenotyping Techniques for Managing Abiotic Stress in Agricultural Crops—A Comprehensive Review”
by Srushtideep Angidi, Kartik Madankar, Muhammad Massub Tehseen and Anshika Bhatla
Crops 2025, 5(2), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/crops5020008
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7655/5/2/8
Seeds
“The Effects of Storage Conditions on Seed Deterioration and Ageing: How to Improve Seed Longevity”
by Françoise Corbineau
Seeds 2024, 3(1), 56-75; https://doi.org/10.3390/seeds3010005
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2674-1024/3/1/5
Grasses
“Sustainable Warm-Climate Forage Legumes: Versatile Products and Services”
by James P. Muir, José C. Batista Dubeux Junior, Mércia V. Ferreira dos Santos, Jamie L. Foster, Rinaldo L. Caraciolo Ferreira, Mário de Andrade Lira, Jr., Barbara Bellows, Edward Osei, Bir B. Singh and Jeff A. Brady
Grasses 2025, 4(2), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/grasses4020016
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2813-3463/4/2/16
Agrochemicals
“EU Chemical Plant Protection Products in 2023: Current State and Perspectives”
by Patrice A. Marchand
Agrochemicals 2023, 2(1), 106-117; https://doi.org/10.3390/agrochemicals2010008
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2813-3145/2/1/8