journals published on behalf of the british society of soil science
TRANSCRIPT
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
Soil Use andManagement
EuropeanJournal ofSoil Science
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.
Soil Use andManagement
EuropeanJournal ofSoil Science
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.
Soil Use andManagement
EuropeanJournal ofSoil Science
Types of papers
Both journals accept:
Research papers.Critical reviews.Short communications.Book reviews.Letters to the editor/comments on papers.
Soil Use andManagement
EuropeanJournal ofSoil Science
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.
Soil Use andManagement
EuropeanJournal ofSoil Science
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
Soil Use andManagement
EuropeanJournal ofSoil Science
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.
Soil Use andManagement
EuropeanJournal ofSoil Science
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
Soil Use andManagement
EuropeanJournal ofSoil Science
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)
Soil Use andManagement
EuropeanJournal ofSoil Science
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.
Soil Use andManagement
EuropeanJournal ofSoil Science
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?
Soil Use andManagement
EuropeanJournal ofSoil Science
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?
Soil Use andManagement
EuropeanJournal ofSoil Science
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 !!
Soil Use andManagement
EuropeanJournal ofSoil Science
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
Soil Use andManagement
EuropeanJournal ofSoil Science
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
Soil Use andManagement
EuropeanJournal ofSoil Science
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
Soil Use andManagement
EuropeanJournal ofSoil Science
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
Soil Use andManagement
EuropeanJournal ofSoil Science
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
Soil Use andManagement
EuropeanJournal ofSoil Science
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)
Soil Use andManagement
EuropeanJournal ofSoil Science
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
Soil Use andManagement
EuropeanJournal ofSoil Science
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
Soil Use andManagement
EuropeanJournal ofSoil Science
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!
Soil Use andManagement
EuropeanJournal ofSoil Science
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
Soil Use andManagement
EuropeanJournal ofSoil Science
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
Soil Use andManagement
EuropeanJournal ofSoil Science
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!!!
Soil Use andManagement
EuropeanJournal ofSoil Science
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