The "Agricultural Science and Practice" Journal is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity, transparency, and quality in published research. With the increasing use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in scholarly work, we have established the following policy to regulate its use in submissions to our journal.

1. Transparency and Disclosure
   Authors must declare the use of generative AI (e.g., language models, text, image, code, or data generation tools) in the preparation of their manuscript, including writing, editing, data analysis, visualization, or other stages of research. In the "Materials and Methods" section or a footnote, authors should specify:

   • The specific AI tool used (e.g., model or software).

   • The purpose for which it was used (e.g., drafting text, data processing, generating figures).

   • The extent and nature of the AI’s contribution to the work.
     Failure to disclose the use of AI will be considered a violation of the journal’s ethical standards.

2. Author's Responsibility
   Generative AI cannot be listed as a co-author of a manuscript, as it lacks the capacity to take responsibility for the content. Authors are fully responsible for the following:

   • The accuracy, validity, and originality of all submitted material, including content generated by AI.

   • The verification and correction of any errors, inaccuracies, or biases introduced by AI tools.

   • Ensuring compliance with copyright and licensing requirements when using AI-generated content.

3. Permissible Use of AI
   The use of generative AI is permitted in the following cases:

   • To enhance the style or grammar of the text (e.g., proofreading or translation).

   • To generate supplementary materials, such as illustrations, graphs, or code, provided they are verified by the authors for compliance with scientific standards.

   • For data analysis or modeling, provided the methodology of AI use is thoroughly described and justified.
     Authors must ensure that the use of AI does not result in plagiarism, including the reproduction of previously published material without proper citation.

4. Prohibited Use of AI
   The following uses of AI are prohibited:

   • Relying entirely on AI to write the manuscript without critical review and editing by the authors.

   • Using AI to fabricate data, manipulate results, or falsify research.

   • Presenting AI-generated content as exclusively authored without acknowledging its origin.

5. Manuscript Review
   The editorial board reserves the right to:

   • Request additional information about the use of AI during the peer-review process.

   • Reject manuscripts if the use of AI does not comply with the stated ethical standards or if there is suspicion of academic misconduct.

6. Ethical Considerations
   Authors must consider potential ethical risks associated with AI use, including bias, data privacy, and environmental impacts (e.g., energy consumption of large AI models). The journal encourages responsible and ethical use of AI technologies in scholarly research.

7. Policy Updates
   Given the rapid evolution of AI technologies, this policy may be updated. Authors are required to adhere to the most current version of the policy published on the journal’s website.

This policy aims to ensure transparency, maintain scientific integrity, and uphold trust in published research. Authors, reviewers, and editors are obligated to comply with these principles.