Post-publication discussions and corrections

1. Introduction

Jurnal Agrotatanen is committed to maintaining the accuracy, transparency, and integrity of the scholarly record after publication. The journal recognizes that scientific research is an ongoing process of discovery, critical evaluation, and refinement, and that published articles may require clarification, correction, or retraction when new evidence or concerns emerge.

This policy establishes the procedures for facilitating scholarly discussion and addressing issues affecting published articles, including corrections, retractions, expressions of concern, addenda, and other necessary post-publication updates.

Jurnal Agrotatanen is committed to handling post-publication matters fairly, transparently, and promptly, in accordance with recognized publication ethics standards and relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

2. Description

2.1. Post-Publication Discussion

Scholarly communication continues after an article has been published. Constructive discussion, critical evaluation, and the exchange of scientific evidence contribute to the development of knowledge and the improvement of research quality.

Jurnal Agrotatanen welcomes responsible scholarly discussion of published research within its scope, including agriculture, agronomy, agrotechnology, soil science, land and water conservation, crop science, plant protection, sustainable agriculture, and related disciplines.

2.2. Reasons for Post-Publication Action

Post-publication action may be necessary when concerns arise regarding the accuracy, reliability, ethical compliance, or interpretation of a published article. Such concerns may include:

  • Honest errors or omissions that affect the interpretation, reproducibility, or reliability of the reported research.

  • Errors in data, calculations, statistical analyses, experimental procedures, figures, tables, references, or other published information.

  • New evidence that materially affects the interpretation or reliability of the published findings.

  • Suspected or confirmed research misconduct, including plagiarism, data fabrication, data falsification, or inappropriate manipulation of research results.

  • Duplicate or redundant publication, inappropriate text or data reuse, or significant undisclosed overlap with other publications.

  • Ethical concerns involving research approvals, informed consent, animal welfare, environmental protection, or other applicable research requirements.

  • Other circumstances that may compromise the integrity of the scholarly record.

2.3. Types of Post-Publication Updates

a. Corrections

Corrections are published to rectify errors or omissions in a published article that require formal amendment but do not warrant retraction of the entire article.

Depending on the journal's terminology and the origin of the error, a correction may be described as:

  • Corrigendum: A correction addressing an error attributable to the author(s).

  • Erratum: A correction addressing an error introduced by the journal during editing, typesetting, or publication.

For consistency, the journal may use the general term Correction for the published notice while explaining the source of the error.

b. Retractions

A retraction is issued when an article's findings are unreliable or the publication has serious integrity problems that cannot be adequately addressed through a correction. Grounds may include major errors, data fabrication or falsification, plagiarism, redundant publication, or serious violations of research ethics.

c. Expressions of Concern

An Expression of Concern is a formal notice alerting readers to substantial concerns regarding the reliability or integrity of a published article when an investigation is ongoing, delayed, or inconclusive and the available evidence warrants a public notice.

d. Addenda

An addendum provides additional information necessary for readers to understand a published article more fully. It does not serve as a substitute for correcting an error or addressing research misconduct.

e. Other Post-Publication Updates

In exceptional circumstances, additional measures may be necessary to address legal concerns, protect individuals' rights, correct publication records, or preserve the integrity of the scholarly record. Any such action will be documented transparently.

3. Policy

3.1. Encouraging Scholarly Discussion

Jurnal Agrotatanen encourages constructive, evidence-based, and respectful discussion of published research.

Readers and researchers may submit comments, letters to the editor, or scholarly responses concerning articles published in the journal, subject to the journal's submission procedures and editorial assessment.

Authors whose work is discussed or criticized will generally be given a reasonable opportunity to respond. Relevant responses may be published when they contribute meaningfully to scholarly discussion and meet the journal's editorial requirements.

All post-publication contributions must be scientifically relevant, professionally presented, and free from defamatory, discriminatory, or otherwise inappropriate content.

3.2. Maintaining the Integrity of the Scholarly Record

Jurnal Agrotatanen has a responsibility to address credible concerns about the accuracy, reliability, and ethical integrity of its published content.

The journal will assess reported concerns objectively and take appropriate action based on the available evidence, the seriousness of the issue, and its implications for the published findings.

Authors are expected to cooperate with reasonable requests for clarification, supporting data, research documentation, or other relevant information needed to investigate a concern.

Where appropriate, the journal may consult peer reviewers, independent subject experts, research institutions, ethics committees, funding bodies, or other relevant parties.

3.3. Transparency and Traceability

All formal post-publication notices, including corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern, will be clearly identified and linked to the affected article.

Each notice will explain the nature of the issue and the action taken, providing sufficient information for readers to understand the implications for the published work.

Where technically feasible, notices will be assigned their own persistent identifiers and bibliographic metadata.

The original article will not be silently altered to conceal a significant error or change in publication status. Any necessary updates to the article file or webpage will be accompanied by a clear notification and an appropriate link to the formal notice.

3.4. Impartiality and Editorial Decision-Making

Decisions concerning post-publication action will be made by the Editor-in-Chief or an appropriately designated editor who has no relevant conflict of interest.

Decisions will be based on the available evidence, the seriousness of the concern, the reliability of the research findings, and applicable publication ethics standards.

The journal will not base its decisions on the authors' institutional affiliations, academic seniority, reputation, nationality, or personal relationships.

Authors will ordinarily be given an opportunity to respond to concerns before a final decision is made, except where immediate action is necessary to protect readers, comply with legal obligations, or prevent further harm.

3.5. Grounds for Retraction

Jurnal Agrotatanen may retract a published article when there is clear and substantial evidence that:

  • The findings are unreliable because of major errors, including serious errors in data, calculations, statistical analysis, or experimental procedures.

  • Research data or results have been fabricated, falsified, or manipulated in a manner that undermines the validity of the article.

  • The article contains plagiarism or other serious forms of publication misconduct.

  • The article has been published redundantly or substantially overlaps with another publication without appropriate justification or disclosure.

  • The research involved serious ethical violations that undermine the legitimacy of the work.

  • There are other serious breaches of publication ethics that compromise the reliability or integrity of the scholarly record.

Retraction is not intended to punish authors or to resolve authorship disputes alone. It is a mechanism for alerting readers that the reliability or integrity of the published article has been compromised.

Minor errors that do not materially affect the findings or conclusions will generally be addressed through a correction rather than a retraction.

3.6. Expressions of Concern

An Expression of Concern may be issued when:

  • Credible concerns about an article's reliability or integrity have been raised, but the available evidence is not yet sufficient to determine the appropriate final action.

  • A formal investigation into suspected research or publication misconduct is ongoing or is expected to take considerable time.

  • An investigation has been inconclusive, but substantial concerns remain regarding the reliability or ethical integrity of the article.

An Expression of Concern is an interim measure and does not, by itself, constitute a final determination of misconduct.

The journal will review the notice when additional evidence becomes available and, where appropriate, publish a subsequent correction, retraction, or other clarification.

3.7. Author Cooperation

Authors of articles published in Jurnal Agrotatanen are expected to cooperate with the journal in resolving post-publication concerns.

Cooperation may include providing relevant raw data, research records, methodological explanations, ethics approval documentation, or responses to questions about the published work.

If authors do not respond or decline to cooperate, the journal may proceed with its assessment based on the available evidence and, where appropriate, contact the authors' institutions or other relevant authorities.

A lack of author response will not automatically establish misconduct, but it may limit the journal's ability to resolve the matter conclusively.

4. Implementation Procedures

A. Post-Publication Discussion

1. Submission of Letters to the Editor and Scholarly Comments

Readers may submit letters to the editor or scholarly comments concerning articles published in Jurnal Agrotatanen through the submission channel designated by the editorial office.

Submissions should:

  • Identify the article being discussed, including its title, authors, publication year, and DOI where available.

  • Present clear, evidence-based arguments relevant to the published research.

  • Be concise, constructive, and scientifically appropriate.

  • Disclose relevant competing interests.

  • Avoid unsupported allegations, personal attacks, or defamatory statements.

Submissions will be assessed by the editorial team and may be subject to external peer review where necessary.

2. Opportunity for Author Response

When a submitted comment raises substantive scientific questions or criticisms, the original article's authors will generally be invited to respond.

The comment and response may be published together or separately, depending on editorial judgment and publication requirements.

3. Online Comments

If an online commenting feature is available, Jurnal Agrotatanen will establish clear rules governing its use, moderation, and acceptable content. Comments may be moderated or removed when they violate the journal's stated rules or applicable legal requirements.

B. Corrections: Errata and Corrigenda

1. Reporting Errors

Authors, readers, reviewers, editors, or other concerned parties may report a suspected error in a published article to the editorial office.

Reports should identify the article and the specific error, provide relevant supporting information, and explain the potential effect on the article's interpretation or conclusions.

2. Assessment and Verification

The Editor-in-Chief or designated editor will assess the report and, where appropriate, consult the authors, independent experts, or other relevant parties.

The assessment will consider whether the error is factual, methodological, numerical, editorial, or interpretative and whether it materially affects the published findings.

3. Publication of a Correction Notice

If a correction is warranted, the journal will publish a formal notice that:

  • Clearly identifies the original article.

  • Describes the error and provides the corrected information.

  • Explains the source of the error where this can be established.

  • Clarifies whether the error affects the findings, interpretation, or conclusions.

  • Is electronically linked to the original article.

The original article will ordinarily remain available as part of the scholarly record, with a visible notification and a link to the correction notice. Where necessary, the online article file may be updated transparently, with the changes documented.

Correction notices will be published without an additional charge to authors.

C. Retractions

1. Initiation and Investigation

A potential retraction may be considered following a report from an author, reader, reviewer, editor, institution, or other credible source.

The journal will assess the evidence in accordance with its publication ethics procedures. Where appropriate, the journal may seek independent expert advice or contact the relevant research institution or ethics committee.

Authors will ordinarily be informed of the concerns and given an opportunity to respond.

2. Publication of a Retraction Notice

When retraction is warranted, Jurnal Agrotatanen will publish a formal notice titled:

Retraction: [Original Article Title]

The notice will:

  • Identify the retracted article and its bibliographic details.

  • Explain the reasons for retraction clearly and specifically, to the extent supported by the evidence.

  • Identify the party or parties initiating the retraction, where appropriate.

  • Distinguish between honest error and research or publication misconduct when the available evidence permits.

  • Be permanently linked to the original article and made accessible to readers.

3. Status of the Retracted Article

The retracted article will ordinarily remain accessible as part of the scholarly record but will be clearly marked as retracted. A prominent notice will be displayed on the article webpage and, where technically feasible, on the article PDF and other published formats.

The journal will seek to notify relevant indexing services and bibliographic databases of the retraction so that the article's publication status can be updated.

D. Expressions of Concern

1. Issuance

The Editor-in-Chief or designated editor may issue an Expression of Concern when substantial, evidence-based concerns about a published article exist but a final determination cannot yet be made.

2. Content and Publication

The notice will identify the affected article, describe the nature of the concern, and explain why an interim notice is necessary.

The notice will be linked to the original article and made accessible to readers.

3. Follow-Up

The journal will review the status of the concern when additional information becomes available or an investigation concludes.

The Expression of Concern may be retained, updated, or followed by a correction, retraction, or other formal notice, depending on the outcome.

E. Addenda

1. Purpose

Authors may request an addendum when additional information is necessary to improve readers' understanding of a published article but does not correct an error in the original publication.

An addendum may provide relevant methodological clarification, additional context, or other supplementary information that does not materially alter the original findings without appropriate formal reassessment.

2. Editorial Assessment

Requests for addenda will be assessed by the Editor-in-Chief or designated editor. Additional expert review may be required when the proposed information affects the interpretation of the research.

3. Publication

If accepted, the addendum will be published as a separate, identifiable notice linked to the original article. The notice will clearly explain its purpose and relationship to the published work.

An addendum must not be used to conceal substantive errors, correct unreliable findings without a correction notice, or avoid an appropriate retraction.

F. Article Removal or Replacement in Exceptional Circumstances

1. Article Removal

Removal of a published article will be considered only in exceptional circumstances, such as when continued public availability would violate applicable law, infringe legally protected rights, disclose confidential or sensitive personal information, or create a serious and immediate risk of harm.

Where removal is necessary, the journal will preserve the publication record to the extent legally permissible and publish a notice explaining the action, unless legal restrictions prevent disclosure of the relevant details.

Article removal will not be used merely to avoid criticism, conceal misconduct, or resolve ordinary disagreements about research findings.

2. Replacement of a Retracted Article

In exceptional cases, a corrected version of a retracted article may be considered for publication if the underlying research can be reliably corrected and the journal's editorial and ethical requirements are satisfied.

Any replacement must undergo appropriate editorial assessment and, where necessary, independent peer review. The replacement must be transparently linked to the original retraction notice and must not erase the history of the original publication.

G. Discoverability and Indexing of Post-Publication Notices

Jurnal Agrotatanen will make reasonable efforts to ensure that corrections, retractions, expressions of concern, addenda, and other formal notices are discoverable and accurately linked to the affected articles.

Where applicable, the journal will update article metadata, DOI records, and relevant indexing or abstracting services to reflect changes in publication status.

The journal will maintain appropriate publication records so that readers can identify the current status of an article and understand any formal changes made after publication.

5. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed periodically and updated as necessary to reflect developments in scholarly publishing, publication ethics standards, and relevant COPE guidance.

Jurnal Agrotatanen is committed to ensuring that post-publication concerns are handled fairly, transparently, and consistently, thereby protecting the reliability of the scholarly record and supporting continued progress in agricultural research and related scientific disciplines.