Generative AI Policies for Authors
KSU Journal of Agriculture and Nature recognizes the potential of AI tools, when used responsibly, to help researchers work efficiently, gain critical insights quickly, and achieve better outcomes. These tools—including AI agents and deep research tools—increasingly assist researchers in synthesizing complex literature, providing overviews of a field or research question, identifying research gaps, generating ideas, and supporting content organization, language, and readability improvements. Authors preparing a manuscript for KSU Journal of Agriculture and Nature may use AI tools for these tasks. However, these tools should never replace human critical thinking, expertise, and judgment.
AI tools must always be used under human supervision and control. Consequently, authors are responsible for the content of their work. This responsibility includes:
- Carefully reviewing and verifying the accuracy, comprehensiveness, and impartiality of all AI-generated outputs (including checking references, as AI-generated references may be incorrect or fabricated).
- Rigorously editing and adapting all material to ensure it represents the author's original contribution and reflects their own analysis, interpretation, insights, and ideas.
- Ensuring that the use of AI-based tools or other resources is disclosed to readers in a clear and transparent manner; we require a disclosure statement at the time of submission regarding the use of AI tools.
- Checking the terms and conditions of the AI tools used to ensure that the manuscript is developed in a way that protects data privacy, intellectual property, and other rights.
Responsible Use of AI Tools
Authors must check the terms and conditions of any AI tool they use to ensure the confidentiality and privacy of their data and inputs, including unpublished manuscripts. Particular caution should be exercised with personally identifiable information. Authors must check for factual errors and potential biases.
Authors must also check the terms and conditions of any AI tool they intend to use and ensure that they are granting the AI tool only the right to use their materials to provide the service to them, and that they are not granting any other rights (including, without limitation, the right to train the AI tool on these materials) over the materials they input into the AI tool. They must also ensure that the AI tool does not impose restrictions on the use of the outputs derived from the AI tool that could restrict the subsequent publication of the article.
Authors must declare the AI tools used in the preparation of the manuscript in a separate AI declaration text added to their article at the time of submission. This declaration will be published in the article to ensure transparency. Authors should document their use of AI, including the name of the AI tool used, the purpose of use, and the scope of oversight. Declaring the use of AI tools promotes transparency and trust among authors, readers, reviewers, editors, and contributors, and facilitates compliance with the terms of use of the relevant AI tool.
Please note: A declaration is not required for basic grammar, spelling, and punctuation checks. However, if an AI tool makes significant changes to the sentence structure or organization of a section of the text, this must be disclosed.
Additionally, authors are not required to disclose the use of AI tools or features used in specialized disability-related assistive technologies if such use is solely for accessibility purposes.
If AI tools are used as part of the research process rather than for manuscript preparation, this use should be described in detail in the Methods section.
Recommended Declaration Format:
Section Title: Declaration of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in the Manuscript Preparation Process
Statement: During the preparation of this work, the author(s) used [NAME OF TOOL/SERVICE] for the purpose of [REASON]. After using this tool/service, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the published article.
Authorship
Authors should not list AI tools as authors or co-authors, nor should they attribute authorship to AI tools. Authorship implies responsibilities and tasks that can only be attributed to and performed by humans. Each (co-)author is responsible for ensuring that questions regarding the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved, and authorship requires the ability to approve the final version of the work and agree to its submission. Authors are also responsible for ensuring that the work is original and has not been previously published, that the named authors meet the authorship criteria, and that the work does not infringe third-party rights. They must also familiarize themselves with KSU Journal of Agriculture and Nature's Publishing Ethics policy before submission.
Use of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Tools in Figures, Images, and Artwork
The use of AI tools to create figures, images, and artwork is permitted only under specific conditions.
Images are generally divided into three categories, and the permitted use of AI tools differs for each category, as described below:
(1) Illustrative Images
Illustrative images demonstrate concepts, processes, or relationships (e.g., flowcharts, decision trees, timelines, or schematic conceptual drawings).
Authors may use AI tools to support the creation of certain types of illustrative images for publication, such as flowcharts, decision trees, timelines, schematic conceptual drawings, or experimental workflow diagrams.
When AI tools are used for this purpose, the principles of responsible use, human oversight, transparency, disclosure, and authorship described in the "Authorship" section apply.
The use of AI tools must be indicated in the caption of each image (including the tool used, version, and manner of use) and in the general AI disclosure section of the article.
(2) Research and Data Images
Research and data images present research data or results. These include: (a) data visualizations generated from underlying datasets through analytical, computational, or statistical workflows (e.g., graphs, charts, diagrams, or heat maps), and (b) primary research images representing primary observed or experimental data (e.g., microscopy, histology, western blots, radiology scans, or patient images).
2a) Data Visualizations
Data visualizations present results derived from underlying datasets through analytical, computational, or statistical workflows (e.g., graphs, charts, diagrams, or heat maps).
AI tools should not be used to fabricate results, invent or alter underlying data, or produce figures that are not correctly derived from the underlying data and methods used in the research.
AI tools may be used to support the creation of data visualizations only when the visual output is directly derived from the underlying data. Such visualizations must be created using reproducible analytical, computational, or statistical methods clearly described in the Methods section. When AI tools are used to create data visualizations, authors must specify the name of the model or tool, the version used, and the developer or manufacturer in the Methods section. Authors must comply with the use policies of the AI tools and provide appropriate attribution where required. Authors may be asked to provide documentation of their AI use and original, unprocessed images for editorial evaluation.
2b) Primary Research Images
Primary research images represent primary observed or experimental data (such as microscopy, histology, western blots, radiology scans, or patient images).
AI tools should not be used to create or alter images that represent primary observed or experimental data not directly obtained in the research. This includes adjustments to brightness, contrast, or color balance, which should only be performed using established image processing software.
Use of AI Tools in Research Methods
This policy does not preclude the use of AI tools in formal research design or research methods (e.g., AI-assisted imaging approaches used for the collection and/or interpretation of primary research data, or predictive modeling of clinical outcomes based on patient data). When the use of AI tools is part of the research design or research methods, their use must be described reproducibly in the Methods section. This should include the name of the model or tool, the version used, and the developer or manufacturer, if applicable. Authors must comply with the use policies of the tools and provide appropriate attribution where required.
(3) Graphical Abstracts and Cover Art
Graphical abstracts and cover images are created to visually summarize or represent the article, rather than being part of the scientific content of the article.
General-purpose generative AI image tools should not be used to create graphical abstracts. Graphical abstracts are typically complex visual summaries that combine multiple graphic elements, icons, and design components.
Authors are encouraged to use specialized scientific visualization tools when preparing graphical abstracts. Specialized visualization tools offer well-defined licensing terms that support responsible use of copyright and intellectual property.
In some cases, the use of AI tools in cover design may be permitted. Authors must obtain prior permission from the journal editor and publisher before submitting an AI-generated cover design. Authors must also demonstrate that all necessary permissions for any third-party materials used have been obtained and ensure that appropriate content attribution is provided.
Author Responsibilities
Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and originality of all images submitted for publication. This includes verifying that the concepts presented are correct and that all images reflect the author's own work and ideas. If images are based on existing artwork or graphics, appropriate attribution must be provided, and permission from the relevant rights holder must be obtained prior to submission. Images that copy or reference existing copyrighted images, real persons, or identifiable products or brands of others should not be created; nor should any image that resembles an individual's voice be used.
Use of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in the Journal Peer Review Process
Peer review lies at the heart of the scientific ecosystem, and KSU Journal of Agriculture and Nature upholds the highest standards of integrity in this process (see Duties of Reviewers). When a researcher is invited to review another researcher's manuscript, this document must be treated as a confidential document.
Reviewers must not upload the submitted manuscript or any part of it into an AI tool, as this may violate the authors' confidentiality and proprietary rights, and may also infringe data privacy rights if the manuscript contains personally identifiable information.
Reviewers are responsible for the scientific evaluation and judgment of the manuscripts they review. AI tools cannot replace reviewers' critical thinking or independent evaluation abilities, as there is a risk that the technology may produce inaccurate, incomplete, or biased results. Reviewers are fully responsible and accountable for the content of their review reports.
Therefore, AI tools may only be used in a supporting capacity—for example, to improve the language and structure of a review report or to assist with background literature searches—provided that confidentiality is maintained and human control and oversight are ensured.
Furthermore, reviewers should only use private AI tools in the review process, as described below:
- Reviewers must disclose their use of AI in their review reports, including the tool used and the purpose of use. No disclosure is required for basic spelling and grammar checks.
Recommended Disclosure Statement:
During the preparation of this report, I used [NAME OF TOOL/SERVICE] for the purpose of [REASON]. After using this tool/service, I reviewed and edited the content as needed and I take full responsibility for its content.
What is a Private AI Tool?
By a "private" AI tool, we mean a version of an AI tool that does not store, reuse, share, or learn from the content you submit to it. This means that when you paste or upload any content into the tool, that content is not stored beyond what is necessary to provide the service, is not used to train or improve the AI model, and is not shared with any third party.
Before using any AI tool, you must verify the following:
- Read the privacy policy and terms of service. Pay particular attention to statements regarding data retention and model training. A private tool explicitly states that user inputs are not stored beyond what is necessary to provide the service and are not used for training. Users must also ensure that the tool they use provides the necessary rights for publication.
- Prefer paid or enterprise versions over free tools. Many freely available AI tools are not private by default. We recommend checking whether your institution offers an enterprise version of a tool or a locally hosted model. Enterprise versions or locally hosted models are more likely to include privacy protections, but this is not guaranteed and must still be verified.
