Qualitative Evaluation of Horticultural Science Journals in Iran

In an investigation carried out at the Department of Agricultural Science, IR Academy of Sciences, totally, 200 Iranian scientific journals in the fields of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources were qualitatively evaluated. In this article, results of evaluation of 10 journals published in 2014 in the field of Horticultural Sciences are reported. Ten indices were designed for evaluating the quality of published articles in journals and another 10 indices for evaluation of the format of the journals. The journals were evaluated by these indices and the obtained data were statistically analyzed to rank the journals. Results showed that 10% of the Horticultural Sciences journals published in Iran ranked “very good” 20% “good”, 40% “intermediate”, and 30% “weak”. The journals were also compared by five indices in relation to the published articles. These were innovativeness, applicability and up-to-datedness of articles and practical usefulness and necessity of publication of the journal. According to the obtained data, International Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology, Iranian Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology scored high for applicability; International Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology, Iranian Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology and Journal of Nuts for necessity of publication; International Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology and Journal of Nuts for up-to-datedness; International Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology for article innovativeness; International Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology and Journal of Nuts for article practical usefulness. In general, it is suggested that publication of one or more qualified journals sponsored by scientific societies being supported and the publication of others being discontinued.