Journal profile · Soil Science
Applied Soil Ecology
ISSN 0929-1393 · eISSN 1873-0272 · Elsevier · NETHERLANDS · Monthly · Founded 1994
Applied Soil Ecology: CAS Zone 2 · Agricultural & Forestry Sciences (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 5.58; hybrid open access; APC about USD 4,320; review about 130 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); community-reported acceptance: about 25%; 806 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
The journal's website announces a move to full open access: At Elsevier, we are committed to advancing human progress and making research accessible to everyone. We are pleased to announce that from January 1, 2027, Applied Soil Ecology will become a fully open access journal, with all articles freely available to readers worldwide. Source ↗Publisher website ·
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Applied Soil Ecology is published by Elsevier and is in Zone 2 of Agricultural & Forestry Sciences in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics, Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions and Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology, together about 42.2% of its articles. Its main subfields are Plant Science. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Applied Soil Ecology addresses the role of soil organisms and their interactions in relation to: agricultural productivity, nutrient cycling and other soil processes, the maintenance of soil structure, sustainability and fertility, the impact of human activities and xenobiotics on soil biota and bio(techno)logical control of soil-inhabiting pests and diseases. Overall, the journal considers studies dealing with the involvement of soil organisms in soil health, soil fertility and sustainability, both in human-managed (i.e. agricultural, forestry systems) and (semi)natural environments. Studies focused predominantly on plant responses without sufficient focus in soil organisms, as mentioned above, are usually not considered in Applied Soil Ecology. The disciplines covered include the following, and preference will be given to articles which are interdisciplinary and integrate two or more of these disciplines: • soil microbiology and microbial ecology • soil invertebrate zoology and ecology • root and rhizosphere ecology • soil science • soil biotechnology • ecotoxicology • nematology • entomology • plant pathology • agronomy and sustainable agriculture • nutrient cycling • ecosystem modelling and food webs
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Soil Science
Editor-in-chief Felipe BastidaPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 16 in mainland China (about 22%); most named Mainland China 16, United States 13, Spain 10, Russia 5, Italy 4 (74 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen DynamicsAgricultural and Biological Sciences24.6%
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant InteractionsAgricultural and Biological Sciences9%
- Microbial Community Ecology and PhysiologyEnvironmental Science8.6%
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing SymbiosisAgricultural and Biological Sciences5.7%
- Nematode management and characterization studiesAgricultural and Biological Sciences5.4%
- Plant-Microbe Interactions and ImmunityAgricultural and Biological Sciences5%
- Soil and Water Nutrient DynamicsEnvironmental Science3.9%
- Peatlands and Wetlands EcologyEnvironmental Science3.7%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Agricultural & Forestry Sciences Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Agricultural & Forestry Sciences | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Soil Science | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Agricultural & Forestry Sciences Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Agricultural & Forestry Sciences | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Soil Science | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Agricultural & Forestry Sciences Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Agricultural & Forestry Sciences | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Soil Science | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 5.58LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 5.6Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 8.9LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 8.9Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.49LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.21LetPub ·
- h-index
- 99LetPub ·
- h-index
- 185OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 4,577OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 4.87OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 8.9%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 24.91%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 767LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 7,201 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 671 | 247 | 341 |
| 2025 | 806 | 268 | 3,473 |
| 2024 | 530 | 177 | 5,959 |
| 2023 | 384 | 115 | 6,707 |
| 2022 | 328 | 78 | 8,492 |
| 2021 | 423 | 108 | 12,705 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Publisher-reported review time from the journal's website
130 dayssubmission to acceptance · community reports about 4.5 months
The publisher's own definition applies; dates from this journal's articles in the last 24 months are not available yet, so the publisher's figure is used.
Figures by source
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 4.5 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 25%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 10 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 56 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 130 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 6 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 4,320 / EUR 4,040 / GBP 3,460 / JPY 535,810 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,800 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Open calls for papers1, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare9 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 2,500 words
- Reference style
- Vancouver
- First submission
- Free format: the journal's layout is not required
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
- Highlights
- Required
- Graphical abstract
- Optional
- Cover letter
- Required
Article types accepted13, with length limits
- announcement6. AnnouncementLength not stated
- commentary1. Research Paper (Regular Paper)2. Review Article3. Short Communication4. Viewpoint5. Letter to the Editor6. AnnouncementA Research Paper should report the res…Length not stated
- letter1. Research Paper (Regular Paper)2. Review Article3. Short Communication4. Viewpoint5. Letter to the Editor6. AnnouncementA Research Paper should report the res…Length not stated
- letter to the editor1. Research Paper (Regular Paper)2. Review Article3. Short Communication4. Viewpoint5. Letter to the Editor6. AnnouncementA Research Paper should report the res…Length not stated
- opinion1. Research Paper (Regular Paper)2. Review Article3. Short Communication4. Viewpoint5. Letter to the Editor6. AnnouncementA Research Paper should report the res…Length not stated
- original research1. Research Paper (Regular Paper)2. Review Article3. Short Communication4. Viewpoint5. Letter to the Editor6. AnnouncementA Research Paper should report the res…Length not stated
- regular paper1. Research Paper (Regular Paper)2. Review Article3. Short Communication4. Viewpoint5. Letter to the Editor6. AnnouncementA Research Paper should report the res…Length not stated
- research paper1. Research Paper (Regular Paper)2. Review Article3. Short Communication4. Viewpoint5. Letter to the Editor6. AnnouncementA Research Paper should report the res…Length not stated
- research paper (regular paper)1. Research Paper (Regular Paper)Length not stated
- review1. Research Paper (Regular Paper)2. Review Article3. Short Communication4. Viewpoint5. Letter to the Editor6. AnnouncementA Research Paper should report the res…Length not stated
- review article1. Research Paper (Regular Paper)2. Review Article3. Short Communication4. Viewpoint5. Letter to the Editor6. AnnouncementA Research Paper should report the res…Length not stated
- short communication1. Research Paper (Regular Paper)2. Review Article3. Short Communication4. Viewpoint5. Letter to the Editor6. AnnouncementA Research Paper should report the res…main text ≤ 1,200 words
- viewpoint1. Research Paper (Regular Paper)2. Review Article3. Short Communication4. Viewpoint5. Letter to the Editor6. AnnouncementA Research Paper should report the res…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
1 to 7 keywords required, written in English. Model summary
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics
Authors must follow Elsevier's Publishing Ethics Policy. Model summary
Authors must follow ethical guidelines stated in Elsevier's Publishing Ethics Policy.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
Journal will become fully open access from January 1, 2027. Model summary
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Single anonymized review process; submissions initially assessed by editors; suitable submissions sent to a minimum of two reviewers; editors make the decision. Model summary
This journal follows a single anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Free preprint posting service on SSRN offered. Model summary
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication. In support of Open Science, this journal offers its authors a free preprint posting service on SSRN, Elsevier’s preprint and early research …
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Country or region
- NETHERLANDS
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1994
- ISSN
- 0929-1393
- Electronic ISSN
- 1873-0272
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Applied Soil Ecology
What CAS zone is Applied Soil Ecology in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Applied Soil Ecology is in Zone 2 of Agricultural & Forestry Sciences, and in Zone 2 of the minor category Soil Science. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 2 of Agricultural & Forestry Sciences. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Applied Soil Ecology?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 5.58; CiteScore 8.9, h-index 185.
How long does peer review take at Applied Soil Ecology?
The publisher reports about 130 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of about 4.5 months; the community-reported acceptance is “about 25%”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Applied Soil Ecology?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Manuscript length: ≤ 2,500 words; Reference style: Vancouver; First submission: Free format: the journal's layout is not required; Suggested reviewers: Optional; Highlights: Required; Graphical abstract: Optional; Cover letter: Required. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Applied Soil Ecology based?
Of the 74 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 16 (about 22%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Mainland China (16), United States (13) and Spain (10). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Applied Soil Ecology?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Applied Soil Ecology is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Applied Soil Ecology open access, and what is the APC?
Applied Soil Ecology is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 4,320.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-24). Last updated: .