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Q1 Journals - Agricultural And Biological Sciences

The Quartile ranking is a way of classifying journals based on their SJR Score within a subject category. Journals in the top 25% are Q1, the next 25% are Q2, and so on through Q4.

Use the table below to browse journals by quartile and explore other metrics such as the Impact Factor and H-Index.



# Journals List Quartile SJR Score H-Index Impact Factor
1 Annual Review of Entomology Q1 5.655 217 23.8
2 Nature Food Q1 3.525 40 23.2
3 Trends in Plant Science Q1 3.213 293 22.5
4 Nature Plants Q1 5.205 111 18.6
5 Trends in Ecology and Evolution Q1 5.127 370 18.1
6 Mycosphere Q1 3.918 34 16.525
7 Current Opinion in Plant Biology Q1 3.206 223 9.5
8 Ecology Letters Q1 4.426 298 8.8
9 Crop Journal Q1 1.209 46 6.6
10 Plant Diversity Q1 0.944 27 4.8
11 Journal of Forestry Research Q1 0.601 40 2.6
12 Asian Herpetological Research Q1 0.609 19 1.58

What is the Journal Quartile?

A journal quartile classifies journals into four tiers (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4) within a specific subject category, based on their SJR Score (or sometimes Impact Factor). Quartiles help researchers quickly assess where a journal stands compared to peers in the same field — not against unrelated disciplines.

Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 Explained

QuartilePositionQuality Indication
Q1Top 25%Highest-impact, most prestigious in the field
Q225%–50%Strong reputation, frequently cited
Q350%–75%Solid mid-tier journals
Q4Bottom 25%Emerging or niche journals

How are Quartiles Determined?

SCImago ranks all journals in a subject category by their SJR score, then divides them into four equal-sized groups:

  • The top 25% = Q1 (e.g., if there are 200 journals in “Medicine”, the top 50 by SJR are Q1).
  • The next 25% = Q2 (positions 51–100).
  • The next 25% = Q3.
  • The bottom 25% = Q4.

A journal can have different quartiles in different subject categories — e.g., Q1 in “Cardiology” but Q2 in “Internal Medicine” if it’s indexed in both.

Why Quartiles Matter for Authors

  • Tenure & promotion: Many universities require Q1 or Q2 publications.
  • Funding: Grant agencies often weigh Q1 papers more heavily.
  • Visibility: Q1 journals reach larger, more engaged audiences.
  • Career growth: Early-career researchers benefit from Q1/Q2 papers on their CV.

Quartile FAQ

What does Q1 mean?

Q1 means the journal is in the top 25% of its subject category by SJR score. It’s the highest tier and typically the most competitive to publish in.

Is a Q1 journal always better than a Q2?

Generally yes — but a niche Q2 journal closely aligned with your scope may have higher acceptance rates and a more targeted audience than a broad Q1 journal where your work would be one of many.

How do I find Q1 journals in my subject?

Use our Q1 Medicine page (replace “medicine” with your subject) or the Quartile Journal Finder.

Can a journal change quartiles?

Yes — quartiles are recalculated annually. Journals can move up or down based on changes in citations and SJR scores.

Tips for Targeting the Right Quartile

  1. Be honest about your work: If your paper is incremental, Q3/Q4 may give a faster acceptance and still build your record.
  2. Match scope first, quartile second: A perfect-fit Q2 journal beats a poor-fit Q1.
  3. Use multiple metrics: Combine quartile with H-Index and acceptance rate.
  4. Avoid predatory journals claiming “Q1 status” outside SCImago’s actual ranking.
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