The knowledge structure and core journals analysis of crop science based on mapping knowledge domains

Abstract

This paper aims at revealing the potential structure of crop science and core journals distribution to provide reference and help for crop research and journal work. On the basis of journal co-citation analysis this paper draws the co-citation map of Crop Science Journal by means of mapping knowledge domains and information visualization technology. 86 crop science journals can be roughly divided into two groups and each group of journals can be subdivided into two regions. Plant science (including plant physiology, plant ecology, plant cell etc.) and biology and chemistry (including biochemistry and molecular biology, gene and genetics etc.) are the mainstream research field of crop science. Crop production and soil science is another important branch of crop science. In addition, there is the phenomenon of cross integration between crop science and environment, horticultural science, plant protection, food processing, animal husbandry etc.