Journals published on behalf of the British Society of Soil Science.

Journals published on behalf of the

British Society of

Soil Science

Soil Use andManagement

EuropeanJournal ofSoil Science

This presentation provides authors with information to help you to:

Understand journal policies and

processes. Optimize your time and efforts

(and ours!!).

Welcome from the editors:Welcome from the editors: Prof. Steve Jarvis (EJSS) and Prof. Mike Goss (SUM)Prof. Steve Jarvis (EJSS) and Prof. Mike Goss (SUM)

It is not a guarantee of paper acceptance



Journal aims and scope Journal aims and scope

European Journal of Soil Science Provides a forum for high quality,

innovative and internationally relevant developments in soil science.

Advances our understanding of soil processes and reports the development of new approaches, techniques and types of analysis.

Suitable topics include:

biological interactions; chemical/physical processes and functions; carbon and organic matter; soil development, variability and

characterization; statistical and spatial distribution methods.



Journal aims and scope Journal aims and scope

Soil Use and Management Covers a wide range of applied soil

science e.g. agriculture, horticulture, forestry, amenity and other soil environments.

Focuses on the use of scientific principles to understand and solve practical problems affecting soils, crops and the environment.

Papers must have international relevance.

Suitable topics include: soil-crop interactions, environmental protection, sustainable land use, soil conservation, pollution control, land reclamation etc.



Types of papers

Both journals accept:

Research papers.Critical reviews.Short communications.Book reviews.Letters to the editor/comments on papers.



Acceptance ratesAcceptance rates

40% (EJSS) and 23% (SUM) of papers are rejected immediately by the editors (2013).

Only c. 29% (EJSS) and 25% (SUM) of submitted papers are published.



Origin of papers Origin of papers submitted in 2013 (%) submitted in 2013 (%)

Country SUM EJSS

Europe (UK) 30 (9) 40 (8)

North America 5 5

South America 7 5

China 26 21

India/Pakistan/Bangladesh

9 7

Africa 7 5

Rest of World 16 17



Why such a large rejection Why such a large rejection rate?rate?

Topic not suitable for journal. Too ‘applied’ (EJSS).

Too ‘process oriented’ (SUM). Not novel or innovative. Local relevance only. Poor science, experimental design

or execution. Poor analysis or interpretation of

results. Inadequate statistics. Plagiarism or double publishing.



Other common problemsOther common problems

Too long (<6500 words EJSS; <5000 words SUM)

Too short!!! Too descriptive (e.g. no

hypothesis tested) Problems with English (use the Wiley

English language editing service) Incorrect structure and/or formatting

(e.g. references)

It may be possible to rectify theseproblems



How EJSS decides if a How EJSS decides if a paper is suitablepaper is suitable

For example:

“Response of ground nuts to fertilizer and manure addition in North Tawtonia in 2011”

Is it novel/innovative? Possibly but....

Is it too applied? Yes

New basic science/process information? No

Of general international interest No (North Tawtonia)

Adequate experimental design? Probably not (only one year’s data)



Examples of unsuitable Examples of unsuitable papers for SUMpapers for SUM

Impacts of soil slaking and drying on release and retention of cations during desalinization - too process based (EJSS?).

Topography and water regimen influence phosphorus desorption in the semi-arid soils of Outer Embistan - local relevance only.

Impact of sewage sludge amendment on heavy metal concentrations in soils growing soybean - environmental survey; no new science presented.



What to do before you start What to do before you start

Ask yourself:

Is the experimental approach and design good?

Have you consulted others: statisticians, statisticians, statisticians....?

Does the work meet the criteria for the journal ?

Did you think carefully about publication before you started writing?



For EJSS:For EJSS:

Is it good science (this includes experimental design and techniques)?Is analysis of the data adequate and appropriate to the investigation? Is it new or innovative? Does it improve significantly our understanding of soil processes? Is it interesting to an international audience?



For SUM:For SUM:

Is it good science (this includes experimental design and techniques)?Is analysis of the data adequate and appropriate to the investigation? Is it new or innovative? Does it contribute to the improved management and use of soils? Is it interesting to an international audience?

It is not easier to get a paper published in SUM !!



Helpful hints…Helpful hints…

Read the guidance to authors very carefully (go to websites; author guidelines)

Look at slide shows on website Look at example paper on website or

in recent issue (on-line or print):paper structure figures and tables referencesstatistics



Example structure for an EJSS paperExample structure for an EJSS paper

Stock, turnover time and accumulation of organic matter in bulk and density fractions of a Podzol soil

Summary

Introduction

Materials and methods

Site description

Sampling

Analyses

Density fractionation

Turnover time of organic carbon

Statistical analysis

Results

Discussion

Conclusions



Example structure for an SUM paperExample structure for an SUM paper

Phosphorus fertilizer form affects phosphorus

loss to waterways: a paired catchment study

Abstract

Introduction

Materials and methods

Site description

Treatments

Measurements

Analytical methods

Statistical analyses

Results

Discussion

Conclusions



Statistics and soilsStatistics and soilsExcellent series of papers by Webster: guidance on the use and presentation of statistical methods and results in soil science:

SUM 5 (2) and EJSS 48 (3): Regression

EJSS 52 (2): Statistics to support soil research and their presentation

EJSS 58 (1): Analysis of variance, inference multiple comparisons and sampling effects



Points to watchPoints to watch Are full details of experiment design given? Pseudo-replication? Are results presented clearly? (see papers by Webster) CV – should be restricted to variables with an absolute

zero ‘Treatment A yielded significantly more than treatment

B (P < 0.05)’ – essential to also quote mean values. Give Standard Errors of the Mean (SEM) rather than

Standard Deviations (SD) Regression – give the regression equation, S.E. and

value of R2

ANOVA – must include replication and randomization Importance of data transformations Numerical results to 3 significant figures



Before you submit …..Before you submit …..

Have you followed the recommended style, length & format ?

Check all references are included and correctly formatted.

Ask colleagues to read and criticise your paper.

Non-native English speakers – get guidance and help from a native English speaker (or use the Wiley English language editing service)



The Editorial TeamThe Editorial Team

Editor in Chief

Deputy Editor

Associate Editor

(1)

Associate Editor

(2)

Deputy Editor

Associate Editor

(…29)

Associate Editor

(…30)

Referees

Editor in Chief

Deputy Editor

Associate Editor

Associate Editor

Deputy Editor

Associate Editor

Associate Editor

Referees



How does the editorial How does the editorial system operate?system operate?

1. Initial review (Eds): No Immediate reject Yes Associate Ed. & refs 2

2. Review No Reject Yes Revision 3

3. Revision Reject but re-submit 1

Major revision 4

Minor revision 4

4. Review RejectReject

Major revision 3

Minor revision 3

Accept 5

5. Editor in Chief Final review and edit

Questions to authors

Send to publishers



What to do if the paper is What to do if the paper is rejectedrejected

Outright/immediate rejection Little chance - accept decision

Rejection after full review If the advice from Assoc. Ed and

referees is solid – accept decisionContact Ed in Chief ONLY if you

have evidence that the reviewers are wrong

Don’t rant at the EiC!



What to do if you need to What to do if you need to revise the paperrevise the paper

Take each recommendation very seriously - do not ignore

Explain your reactions and changes carefully

Provide concrete evidence if you ‘dispute’ decisions

“We are right” is not good enough



Final comments. Final comments. Pressure to publish and the work

involved (for authors and editors) is great• 300-350+ papers received/year

Do not take short cutsOur editors & referees will find you

out!Both journals now check for

plagiarism/double publishing

Listen to advice Read decision letters and review

reports very carefully



If all this advice is followed

Better chance of your paper being accepted.

Continued flow of high quality papers.

Improved international representation of good work.

More satisfaction for you and an easier life for all of us!!!



Thank you for watching this Thank you for watching this

Please do ask questions

Do not hesitate to contact us for initial guidance on the potential

suitability of a paper…..

…. we look forward to receiving your papers.

Published on behalf of the

British Society of

Soil Science

For more information go to the journal web sites:EJSS - http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1365-2389

SUM - http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1475-2743

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1365-2389

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1475-2743

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Journals published on behalf of the British Society of Soil Science.

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