Manuscript types
Types of Manuscripts
The journal accepts the following types of manuscripts, each with specific requirements regarding structure and length.
Original Articles
Original research studies, including observational, experimental, or theoretical research, are considered for publication.
The structure of these articles must include: Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusions. The maximum length is six thousand (6,000) words, excluding references and metadata.
Abstracts must be structured according to the following format: Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusions, and must not exceed 250 words, excluding the title, section headings, and keywords.
Review Articles
These articles present a comprehensive and critical analysis of the existing literature on a specific topic.
The structure must include: Introduction (background and significance of the topic), Review (with subsections according to the author's approach), and Conclusions. The maximum length is eight thousand (8,000) words, excluding references and their metadata.
The abstract must follow the same structure and must not exceed 250 words, excluding the title, section headings, and keywords.
Reflection Articles
These manuscripts provide an in-depth discussion or theoretical reflection on a particular topic based on relevant literature.
The structure must include: Introduction (background and purpose), Reflection (with sections at the author's discretion), and Conclusions. The maximum length is six thousand (6,000) words, excluding references and metadata.
The abstract must follow the same structure and must not exceed 250 words, excluding the title, section headings, and keywords.
Letters to the Editor
Letters to the Editor are brief communications that discuss or comment on papers published in the journal or address current issues of interest to the scientific community within the journal's field. The maximum length is one thousand five hundred (1,500) words, and no abstract is required.
Keywords
Manuscripts requiring an abstract must include between six (6) and twelve (12) keywords. Authors are requested to use the ASFA Thesaurus to select standardized terms:
https://agrovoc.fao.org/skosmosAsfa/asfa/en/?clang=es
Manuscript Languages
The journal accepts full-length manuscripts written in Spanish, English, and Portuguese.
Graphical Elements of Manuscripts
Authors should observe the following guidelines regarding the graphical elements included in their manuscripts.
Titles, Sources, and Permission for Use
All tables and figures must include a clear title and identify their source. In addition, any table, figure, or image originating from a copyright-protected source must be accompanied by the appropriate permission for its use, as the right of quotation does not apply to graphical elements. This right applies only to excerpts of works and not to an entire work, and a figure, image, or photograph is considered a work in itself. Failure to comply with this requirement, or the inclusion of graphical elements without the appropriate authorization, may result in rejection of the manuscript.
Furthermore, every image, illustration, or graphical element that is not a table shall be designated as a figure. In addition, every table and figure must be explicitly cited within the body of the manuscript. If a table or figure is not mentioned in the text, it will be considered an error and will be removed from the manuscript.
Preparation of Tables and Figures
Authors are encouraged to prepare their own tables and figures for inclusion in the manuscript. If graphical elements from other sources are used, authors must obtain the necessary permissions and submit them together with detailed information regarding any restrictions on their use or reproduction, bearing in mind that the journal publishes under a specific Creative Commons license.
Number of Tables and Figures
The recommended maximum number of tables and figures per manuscript is twelve (12), in whatever proportion is required. If a greater number is necessary, the authors must provide the Editor with a justification explaining the relevance of such material to the manuscript.
Authors should bear in mind that tables and figures are intended to explain, support, or reinforce the evidence or arguments presented in the manuscript. The inclusion of purely decorative images is not permitted.
Citation Style
The journal follows the APA Style (7th edition) for both in-text citations and the formatting of references in the reference list at the end of the manuscript. All sources cited in the text must appear in the reference list, and conversely, every source included in the reference list must be cited in the text.
The complete APA Style guide is available at:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/index.html
Examples of reference formats, including the bibliographic information required and the structure of each citation for different source types, are provided below. (Authors are requested to pay particular attention to the use of typographical conventions, such as italics.)
Journal Article
Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of article. Title of Periodical, volume number(issue number), pages. https://doi.org/xx.xxx/yyyy
Book Chapter
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year of publication). Title of chapter. In E. E. Editor & F. F. Editor (Eds.), Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle (pp. pages of chapter). Publisher. DOI (if available).
Book
Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle. Publisher Name. DOI (if available).
Webpage
Lastname, F. M. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. Site Name. URL.
