Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Duties of Editors

Fair Play and Editorial Independence
Editors of the Journal of Agrometeorology evaluate submitted manuscripts solely on the basis of their academic merit, including importance, originality, scientific validity, clarity, and relevance to the journal’s scope, without discrimination based on authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, citizenship, religious belief, political philosophy, or institutional affiliation. Editorial decisions are independent and are not influenced by governmental policies or external agencies. The Editor-in-Chief holds full authority over the editorial content of the journal and the timing of publication.

Confidentiality
Editors and editorial staff shall not disclose any information regarding a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, editorial advisers, and the publisher, as appropriate. This confidentiality extends to unpublished data, innovative methodologies, and novel findings related to agrometeorology, climate–crop interactions, or allied agricultural sciences.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Editors and editorial board members must not use unpublished information disclosed in a submitted manuscript for their own research without the authors’ explicit written consent. Any privileged information or ideas obtained during the editorial process will be kept confidential and not used for personal advantage. Editors will recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest arising from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with authors, institutions, or organizations involved, and will delegate such manuscripts to another qualified editor.

Publication Decisions
Editors ensure that all manuscripts considered for publication in the Journal of Agrometeorology undergo peer review by at least two independent experts in the relevant field. The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for deciding which manuscripts will be published, based on scientific validation, relevance to the agrometeorological research community, reviewers’ recommendations, and prevailing legal and ethical requirements concerning libel, copyright infringement, and plagiarism. The Editor-in-Chief may consult other editors or reviewers in making final decisions.

Involvement and Cooperation in Investigations
Editors, in collaboration with the publisher and/or the scientific society, will take appropriate action when ethical concerns are raised regarding submitted or published articles. All allegations of unethical publishing behavior will be investigated, even if discovered after publication. The Journal of Agrometeorology follows COPE Flowcharts in cases of suspected misconduct. Where ethical violations are confirmed, suitable actions such as corrections, retractions, expressions of concern, or editorial notes will be published.

Duties of Reviewers

Contribution to Editorial Decisions
Peer review assists editors in making informed editorial decisions and helps authors improve their manuscripts through constructive feedback. Peer review is an essential element of scholarly communication and scientific progress. The Journal of Agrometeorology considers peer review a professional responsibility and encourages all qualified researchers to contribute fairly to this process.

Promptness
Invited reviewers who feel unqualified to review a manuscript or who anticipate delays that would prevent timely completion of the review should immediately inform the editors and decline the invitation, allowing alternative reviewers to be appointed.

Confidentiality
All manuscripts received for review are confidential documents and must not be disclosed or discussed with others unless explicitly authorized by the Editor-in-Chief under exceptional circumstances. This obligation applies equally to reviewers who decline the review invitation.

Standards of Objectivity
Reviews must be conducted objectively, with comments clearly supported by scientific reasoning. Reviewers should avoid personal criticism of authors and focus on improving the scientific quality of the manuscript, particularly when evaluating novel or unconventional agrometeorological approaches.

Acknowledgement of Sources
Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors. Any observation, derivation, or argument previously reported should be supported by appropriate citations. Reviewers should notify the editors of any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under review and other known works.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Reviewers must declare any conflicts of interest arising from personal, professional, or institutional relationships with the authors or organizations associated with the manuscript and decline the review if such conflicts exist. Unpublished material disclosed during peer review must not be used in the reviewer’s own research without explicit written consent from the authors. All privileged information must remain confidential.

Duties of Authors

Reporting Standards
Authors must present an accurate and objective account of the research performed and its significance. Manuscripts should contain sufficient detail and references to allow replication. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute unethical behavior and are unacceptable.

Data Access and Retention
Authors may be asked to provide raw data for editorial review and should ensure data availability for at least ten years after publication, subject to confidentiality and legal considerations.

Originality and Plagiarism
Authors must submit only original work and properly cite the work of others. All forms of plagiarism constitute unethical publishing behavior and are unacceptable.

Multiple or Concurrent Submission
Manuscripts describing essentially the same research must not be submitted to more than one journal simultaneously or published more than once, except under clearly justified and agreed circumstances.

Authorship of the Manuscript
Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant contributions to the research and manuscript preparation. All authors must approve the final version and agree to submission.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Authors must disclose all financial and non-financial conflicts of interest and sources of funding that could influence the research or its interpretation.

Acknowledgement of Sources
All relevant sources must be properly acknowledged. Privately obtained information must not be used without written permission.

Hazards and Human or Animal Subjects
Any unusual hazards must be clearly identified. Studies involving human participants or animals must comply with applicable laws and ethical guidelines and include statements of approval and informed consent.

Peer Review
Authors are required to cooperate fully with the peer review process and respond promptly and systematically to reviewers’ comments.

Fundamental Errors in Published Works
Authors must promptly notify the editors of any significant errors discovered after publication and cooperate in issuing corrections or retractions as necessary.

Duties of the Publisher

Handling of Unethical Publishing Behaviour
In cases of suspected or proven misconduct, plagiarism, or fraudulent publication, the publisher, in collaboration with the editors, will take appropriate action, including issuing corrections or retractions. The publisher is committed to safeguarding the integrity of research published in the Journal of Agrometeorology and preventing unethical publishing practices.