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Author Guidelines

Journal of Geography and Agrarian Innovations is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access academic journal that publishes high-quality scientific articles in the fields of geography, agrarian sciences, environmental studies, land resources, soil science, geospatial analysis, regional development, and other related interdisciplinary areas. All manuscripts submitted to the journal are evaluated in terms of scientific novelty, methodological rigor, academic language, structural integrity, ethical compliance, and conformity with technical requirements. Authors are kindly requested to read the present guidelines carefully and prepare their manuscripts in full accordance with the requirements set out below before submission.

1. General Principles

Manuscripts submitted to the journal must present the results of original scientific research, must not have been published elsewhere previously, and must not simultaneously be under review by another journal or publication. All ideas, findings, tables, graphs, maps, figures, statistical indicators, references, interpretations, and authorial conclusions presented in the manuscript must be prepared within the framework of full academic responsibility.

The journal publishes manuscripts in English only. The language of the manuscript must be academically edited, terminologically consistent, and grammatically correct. Manuscripts that do not meet academic language standards may be returned at the technical screening stage prior to peer review.

The following criteria are taken as the main basis for manuscript evaluation:

  • the relevance and scientific significance of the topic;
  • the novelty and originality of the research;
  • methodological soundness and the correctness of the scientific approach;
  • the depth of analysis and justification of the results;
  • the completeness, clarity, and coherence of the manuscript structure;
  • compliance with the APA 7 citation and referencing style;
  • adherence to publication ethics and academic integrity standards.

2. File Preparation and Technical Requirements

The manuscript must be prepared only in Microsoft Word format. Files submitted in incompatible or non-editable formats may be returned during the initial technical screening.

The manuscript must be formatted according to the following technical parameters:

  • file format: .doc or .docx;
  • page size: A4;
  • page margins: 2 cm on all sides;
  • main text font: Times New Roman;
  • main text font size: 12 pt;
  • line spacing: 1.5;
  • paragraph alignment: justified;
  • first-line indentation of paragraphs: 1 cm;
  • all pages must be numbered consecutively;
  • unnecessary spaces, manual spacing adjustments, and non-standard formatting must not be used.

Headings should remain visually consistent and academically simple. Excessively decorative or non-standard heading styles should be avoided. Section titles may be presented in bold, while subsections should be formatted in the same font family and kept stylistically consistent throughout the text.

3. Length of the Manuscript

The manuscript submitted to the journal must be no fewer than 4000 words. Articles below this threshold may be considered insufficient in terms of scientific depth and analytical maturity and may therefore not be accepted for review by the editorial office.

The word count generally includes the main text, introduction, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion sections. Although the abstract, keywords, acknowledgements, and reference list are not typically counted separately, authors are expected to maintain a balanced overall structure of the manuscript. Unnecessary repetition, excessive descriptive passages, and material lacking analytical value are not recommended.

4. Language Policy

In order to ensure international visibility and integration into global academic circulation, the journal accepts manuscripts only in English.

  • Manuscripts must demonstrate academic language, terminological consistency, and grammatical accuracy.
  • Authors are responsible for language editing before submission.
  • Manuscripts written in unclear, colloquial, repetitive, or linguistically weak form may be returned during the technical screening or initial editorial review stage.

5. Authorship and Author Responsibility

Each person listed as an author in the manuscript must have made a genuine scientific contribution to the conception, preparation, execution, or interpretation of the study. Formal authorship, symbolic addition of names, or listing individuals who have made no real contribution to the study is unacceptable.

If the manuscript has two or more authors, one of them must be identified as the corresponding author. The corresponding author is responsible for the following:

  • ensuring that the final version of the manuscript is approved by all co-authors;
  • obtaining the joint consent of all authors for submission to the journal;
  • conducting official correspondence with the editorial office;
  • coordinating revisions and responses to reviewer comments.

After the manuscript has been submitted, any change in the order of authors, addition of an author, or removal of an author is possible only on the basis of a justified formal request and with the approval of the editorial office.

Self-citation policy: Each author may cite a maximum of two of their own previously published works in a manuscript. Any self-citation must be directly relevant and scientifically justified. Manuscripts exceeding this limit without clear justification may be returned for revision.

6. Ethical Requirements

By submitting a manuscript, authors confirm that they comply with the following principles:

  • the submitted work is original;
  • there is no plagiarism, falsification, fabrication of data, or manipulation;
  • all sources used have been properly cited;
  • the manuscript has not been published elsewhere and has not been submitted simultaneously to another publication;
  • all authors agree to the submission of the manuscript;
  • any funding, institutional support, or possible conflicts of interest have been clearly disclosed.

The journal may screen all submitted manuscripts for plagiarism. In cases where plagiarism, improper paraphrasing, uncited use of sources, data manipulation, fabricated material, or other ethical violations are detected, the manuscript will be rejected. If necessary, authors may be asked to provide clarification, supporting documentation, or original data.

The manuscript must be written in an inclusive, respectful, and non-discriminatory academic language. Expressions implying superiority or discrimination based on personal or social characteristics are not acceptable.

7. Structure of the Manuscript

The manuscript must be presented in a clear, logical, and well-structured scientific format. The recommended structure is as follows:

  1. Title of the article
  2. Name(s) and surname(s) of the author(s)
  3. Affiliation(s), including institution, city, and country
  4. Email address of the corresponding author
  5. ORCID identifier(s) of the author(s), where available
  6. Abstract
  7. Keywords
  8. Introduction
  9. Literature review (if presented as a separate section)
  10. Materials and Methods
  11. Results
  12. Discussion
  13. Conclusion
  14. Acknowledgements and funding information (if applicable)
  15. Conflict of interest statement (if applicable)
  16. References

Sections may be numbered, especially in large analytical manuscripts, in order to ensure clarity and systematic presentation.

8. Title, Author Information, and Institutional Affiliation

The title of the article should be concise, precise, informative, and reflective of the content of the research. It should not be overly general, vague, emotional, or non-scientific in nature.

Author information should be presented in the following order:

  • name and surname;
  • academic degree or position (optional);
  • institution and department;
  • city and country;
  • email address of the corresponding author;
  • ORCID identifier(s), where available.

If multiple authors represent different institutions, affiliations may be indicated using numerical superscripts.

9. Abstract and Keywords

The abstract must be between 150–250 words. It should briefly but clearly present the purpose of the study, research problem, methodology, main results, and key conclusions.

The following should not be included in the abstract:

  • references;
  • table or figure numbers;
  • formulas;
  • overly general or non-informative statements.

The abstract should be informative and capable of providing a clear understanding of the main scientific direction of the article when read independently.

Keywords should consist of 5–7 terms. They must be carefully selected to ensure proper indexing and visibility in search systems. Overly general words and unnecessary repetition of terms already used in the title should be avoided.

10. Introduction, Methodology, Results, and Discussion

The Introduction should briefly present the relevance of the topic, the research problem, the objectives of the study, and its scientific context. It should clearly explain the importance of the study without becoming excessively long.

The Literature Review may be presented either as a separate section or integrated within the introduction. It should analyze previous approaches, theoretical frameworks, and existing research gaps. Merely listing sources is insufficient; authors must present a comparative and analytical evaluation of the literature.

Materials and Methods should clearly describe the data sources, selection criteria, methodological approaches, statistical or analytical techniques, mapping procedures, laboratory procedures where relevant, or fieldwork methods used in the study. The description should be sufficiently detailed to allow scientific understanding and, where appropriate, replication by other researchers.

Results should present the main findings in a clear, systematic, and logically structured manner. This section should focus on presenting the results themselves.

Discussion should interpret the findings, explain their scientific significance, compare them with previous studies, and identify implications, limitations, and possible directions for further research.

Conclusion should provide a concise and clear summary of the principal scientific findings of the study. It should not simply repeat the introduction.

11. Figures, Tables, Graphs, Maps, and Other Visual Materials

All visual materials used in the manuscript must be scientifically relevant, technically clear, and directly related to the text. These include figures, graphs, diagrams, maps, schemes, tables, and other illustrative materials.

Requirements for visual materials:

  • each figure, graph, map, and table must be numbered consecutively;
  • titles of figures, graphs, and maps must be placed below them;
  • titles of tables must be placed above them;
  • each visual element must be referenced in the text;
  • all visuals must be clearly legible and of adequate quality;
  • dimensions must fit within the page layout and not exceed page margins.

Important: The source of every figure, graph, table, map, or other material used in the manuscript must be clearly indicated. If prepared by the author, it may be stated as “Source: compiled by the author.” If adapted or reproduced from another source, it must be cited in accordance with APA 7 standards, and necessary permissions must be considered where applicable.

Visual materials should support analysis and present meaningful information. Decorative visuals that merely repeat the text without analytical contribution are not recommended.

12. Citation and Reference System: APA 7

All in-text citations and the reference list must be prepared according to the APA 7 (American Psychological Association, 7th edition) style. Authors are required to ensure consistency and accuracy in both in-text citations and the reference list.

The main principle of APA 7 is that the author’s surname and year of publication are given in the text, while full bibliographic details are provided in the reference list at the end of the manuscript.

12.1. In-text Citations

In-text citations can be presented in two forms:

  • parenthetical citation;
  • narrative citation (the author’s name is included in the sentence).

For one author:

  • Parenthetical: (Aliyev, 2021)
  • Narrative: Aliyev (2021) states that …

For two authors:

  • Parenthetical: (Aliyev & Hasanov, 2022)
  • Narrative: Aliyev and Hasanov (2022) show that …

For three or more authors:

  • Use abbreviated form from the first citation:
  • Parenthetical: (Aliyev et al., 2023)
  • Narrative: Aliyev et al. (2023) conclude that …

Multiple works by the same author:

  • (Aliyev, 2019, 2021)
  • or in the same year: (Aliyev, 2021a, 2021b)

Multiple sources cited together:

  • (Aliyev, 2020; Brown, 2019; Smith & Green, 2021)

Page numbers should be included only for direct quotations or specific references:

  • (Aliyev, 2021, p. 45)
  • (Aliyev, 2021, pp. 45–47)

Corporate or institutional authors:

  • (World Bank, 2022)
  • (United Nations Environment Programme [UNEP], 2021) — first citation
  • (UNEP, 2021) — subsequent citations

Sources with no date:

  • (Ministry of Agriculture, n.d.)

12.2. Rules for In-text Citations

  • Use a comma between the author’s surname and the year.
  • Use “&” in parenthetical citations for two authors.
  • In narrative form, use appropriate conjunctions in normal sentence structure.
  • Use “et al.” for three or more authors.
  • Sources cited together should generally be listed in alphabetical order.

12.3. Direct Quotation and Paraphrasing

Direct quotation involves reproducing the author’s words exactly. In this case, the page number must be provided.

Example: “The impact of regional climate change on water resources is multidimensional” (Aliyev, 2021, p. 45).

Paraphrasing involves expressing the author’s idea in one’s own words. Citation is still required, although page numbers are optional.

Example: The impact of regional climate change on water resources is complex and multidimensional (Aliyev, 2021).

Excessive use of direct quotations is not recommended. Analytical use and paraphrasing are preferred in scientific writing.

12.4. Reference List

The reference list must be prepared according to APA 7 guidelines. Only sources cited in the text should be included. Every cited source must appear in the reference list, and every source listed must be cited in the text.

Main rules for the reference list:

  • arranged alphabetically;
  • sorted by author surname;
  • multiple works by the same author ordered by year;
  • same-year publications distinguished as 2022a, 2022b;
  • DOI should be provided where available;
  • URLs should be included only when necessary.

12.5. Examples of APA 7 Sources

Journal article (1 author):
Aliyev, R. (2021). Climate variability and water resource pressure in arid regions. Journal of Environmental Geography, 14(2), 45–62. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxx

Journal article (2 authors):
Aliyev, R., & Hasanov, E. (2022). Land-use change and agricultural sustainability in semi-arid landscapes. Geographical Research, 18(1), 77–95. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxx

Journal article (3+ authors):
Aliyev, R., Mammadov, T., Karimov, S., & Brown, J. (2023). Spatial dynamics of soil degradation in mountain-agricultural zones. Environmental Monitoring Studies, 9(3), 101–123. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxx

Book:
Brown, A. (2018). Environmental geography. Springer.

Book chapter:
Karimov, N. (2020). Sustainable irrigation systems in dryland agriculture. In T. Hasanov & M. Aliyeva (Eds.), Advances in agricultural geography (pp. 55–78). Routledge.

Web source:
World Bank. (2022). Climate and development overview. https://www.worldbank.org/

No date source:
Ministry of Agriculture. (n.d.). Soil resources and land use priorities. https://www.example.org/

Conference paper:
Mammadov, F. (2021, June 14–16). Spatial analysis of land degradation in the Kura-Aras lowland [Conference presentation]. International Conference on Regional Geography, Baku, Azerbaijan.

Thesis/Dissertation:
Hasanli, L. (2020). Geographical assessment of mountain ecosystem vulnerability [Doctoral dissertation, Baku State University]. Institutional Repository Name.

12.6. Important APA 7 Notes

  • Journal titles and volume numbers are italicized.
  • Issue numbers are placed in parentheses and are not italicized.
  • Article titles follow sentence case.
  • DOI should be presented as https://doi.org/…
  • A period should not be placed at the end of URLs.
  • All citations must follow a consistent system; numbered or bracket styles should not be used.

13. Funding, Acknowledgements, and Conflict of Interest

If the research has been funded by any grant, project, foundation, institution, or other supporting body, this information must be clearly stated at the end of the manuscript. An acknowledgement section may also be included to recognize individuals or institutions that provided technical, analytical, or other professional support.

In the case of a conflict of interest, the author must explicitly declare it. If no conflict of interest exists, this should also be stated accordingly.

14. Peer Review Process

All manuscripts undergo a double-blind peer review process involving at least two independent reviewers.

For detailed information about the review procedure, please visit: Peer Review Process page .

15. Grounds for Manuscript Rejection or Return

The manuscript may be returned for revision or rejected in the following cases:

  • if it does not fall within the scope of the journal;
  • if it contains fewer than 5000 words;
  • if technical formatting requirements are not met;
  • if the APA 7 citation style is not correctly applied;
  • if the abstract does not meet the required standards;
  • if sources for figures, tables, graphs, or maps are not provided where required;
  • if the language does not meet academic standards;
  • if plagiarism or ethical violations are detected;
  • if the manuscript is scientifically weak, poorly structured, or methodologically insufficient.

16. Pre-submission Checklist

Before submitting the manuscript, the author should ensure that:

  • the manuscript fits within the scope of the journal;
  • the text is prepared in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx);
  • the main text is formatted in Times New Roman, 12 pt, with 1.5 line spacing;
  • the manuscript exceeds 5000 words;
  • the abstract is between 150–250 words;
  • keywords consist of 5–7 terms;
  • all sections are complete and logically structured;
  • all citations follow APA 7 guidelines;
  • all in-text citations are included in the reference list;
  • all sources in the reference list are cited in the text;
  • all figures, tables, graphs, and maps include proper source attribution where required;
  • funding information and conflict of interest statements are disclosed where applicable;
  • the manuscript is not under review by another journal.

17. Contact

For questions regarding manuscript submission, technical requirements, editorial procedures, or publication-related matters, please contact the editorial office.

Email: info@geonatres.az