Journal profile · Soil Science
Journal of Soils and Sediments
ISSN 1439-0108 · eISSN 1614-7480 · Springer Berlin Heidelberg · GERMANY · Quarterly · Founded 2001
Journal of Soils and Sediments: CAS Zone 3 · Agricultural & Forestry Sciences (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 3.27; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,890; median 136 days to acceptance (125 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: 66%; 237 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Journal of Soils and Sediments is published by Springer Berlin Heidelberg and is in Zone 3 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, Heavy metals in environment and Soil erosion and sediment transport, together about 36% of its articles. Its main subfields are Ecology. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The Journal of Soils and Sediments (JSSS) is devoted to soils and sediments; it deals with contaminated, intact and disturbed soils and sediments. JSSS explores both the common aspects and the differences between these two environmental compartments. Inter-linkages at the catchment scale and with the Earth’s system (inter-compartment) are an important topic in JSSS. The range of research coverage includes the effects of disturbances and contamination; research, strategies and technologies for prediction, prevention, and protection; identification and characterization; treatment, remediation and reuse; risk assessment and management; creation and implementation of quality standards; international regulation and legislation. Potential authors are invited to check the contents of recent issues to determine whether their manuscript is suitable for JSSS.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Soil Science
Editor-in-chief Sediments Philip N.Publisher website
Editorial board by country: 38 in mainland China (about 36%); most named Mainland China 38, Australia 10, Germany 6, France 6, Italy 6 (106 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 Sciences14.8%
- Heavy metals in environmentEnvironmental Science13.9%
- Soil erosion and sediment transportAgricultural and Biological Sciences7.3%
- Soil and Water Nutrient DynamicsEnvironmental Science6.9%
- Soil and Unsaturated FlowEngineering5.2%
- Microbial Community Ecology and PhysiologyEnvironmental Science4.3%
- Clay minerals and soil interactionsMaterials Science3.9%
- Toxic Organic Pollutants ImpactEnvironmental Science3.8%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Agricultural & Forestry Sciences Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Agricultural & Forestry Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Environmental Sciences | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Soil Science | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Agricultural & Forestry Sciences Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Agricultural & Forestry Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Environmental Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Soil Science | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Agricultural & Forestry Sciences Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Agricultural & Forestry Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Environmental Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Soil Science | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
CASCAB AbstractsGeoRefCurrent ContentsPublisher website
Other: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, AGRICOLA, Astrophysics Data System, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSS, Semantic Scholar
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
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
- 3.27LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 3.3Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 3.8Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 6.5LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.9LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.82LetPub ·
- h-index
- 59LetPub ·
- h-index
- 121OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 3,120OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 2.77OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 6.1%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 17.74%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 234LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 906,200Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 5,000 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 373 | 73 | 138 |
| 2025 | 237 | 42 | 695 |
| 2024 | 246 | 73 | 1,539 |
| 2023 | 291 | 59 | 3,084 |
| 2022 | 300 | 58 | 4,695 |
| 2021 | 271 | 57 | 5,203 |
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
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
136 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 100 days – 182 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 13 days (125 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 158 days
- Sample
- 125 articles with submission and acceptance dates (652 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 2.7 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 66%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 15 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double 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 3,890 / EUR 2,990 / GBP 2,590 | — | — |
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 prepare4 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 4
- Reference style
- Author–date
- Suggested reviewers
- Required, 3
Article types accepted17
- book reviewResearch articles reporting original and previously unpublished research Short communications on important preliminary findings Letters to the editor Commentary…Length not stated
- book reviewsFor Book Reviews, Conference Announcements and Conference Reviews; please consult first with the editors.Length not stated
- commentaryResearch articles reporting original and previously unpublished research Short communications on important preliminary findings Letters to the editor Commentary…Length not stated
- commentary and discussionCommentary and discussion on papers published in the journalLength not stated
- conference announcementsFor Book Reviews, Conference Announcements and Conference Reviews; please consult first with the editors.Length not stated
- conference reportResearch articles reporting original and previously unpublished research Short communications on important preliminary findings Letters to the editor Commentary…Length not stated
- conference reviewsFor Book Reviews, Conference Announcements and Conference Reviews; please consult first with the editors.Length not stated
- editorialResearch articles reporting original and previously unpublished research Short communications on important preliminary findings Letters to the editor Commentary…Length not stated
- letters to the editorResearch articles reporting original and previously unpublished research Short communications on important preliminary findings Letters to the editor Commentary…Length not stated
- research articleResearch articles reporting original and previously unpublished research Short communications on important preliminary findings Letters to the editor Commentary…Length not stated
- research articlesResearch articles reporting original and previously unpublished researchLength not stated
- reviewResearch articles reporting original and previously unpublished research Short communications on important preliminary findings Letters to the editor Commentary…Length not stated
- review articleResearch articles reporting original and previously unpublished research Short communications on important preliminary findings Letters to the editor Commentary…Length not stated
- review articlesReview Articles with a critically evaluation and summarizing of existing data and fields of researchLength not stated
- short communicationResearch articles reporting original and previously unpublished research Short communications on important preliminary findings Letters to the editor Commentary…Length not stated
- short communicationsShort communications on important preliminary findingsLength not stated
- special issuesSpecial Issues such as proceedings from conferences, workshops and meetings can be considered. Please consult with the editors.Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review
- AI use Generative AI Images
Please check Springer’s policy on generative AI images and make sure your work adheres to the principles described therein. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship principles
These guidelines describe authorship principles and good authorship practices to which prospective authors should adhere to. Authorship clarified The Journal and Publisher assume all authors agreed with the content and that all gave explicit consent to submit and that they obtained consent from the responsible authorities at the institute/organization where the work has been carried out, before th…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Disclosures and declarations
All authors are requested to include information regarding sources of funding, financial or non-financial interests, study-specific approval by the appropriate ethics committee for research involving humans and/or animals, informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved animals (as appropriate). The decision whether such …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data availability statements
All original research must include a data availability statement. This statement should explain how to access data supporting the results and analysis in the article, including links/citations to publicly archived datasets analysed or generated during the study. Please see our full policy here. If it is not possible to share research data publicly, for instance when individual privacy could be com…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics Compliance with Ethical Standards
To ensure objectivity and transparency in research and to ensure that accepted principles of ethical and professional conduct have been followed, authors should include information regarding sources of funding, potential conflicts of interest (financial or non-financial), informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved an…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Open Choice articles do not require transfer of copyright as the copyright remains with the author. In opting for open access, the author(s) agree to publish the article under a Creative Commons license. Details of the OA licences offered to authors can be found on the individual journal website, in the journal's How to publish with us guide. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in Journal of Soils and Sediments, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review
Peer review by a minimum of two and a maximum of three experts for all papers except Editorials, Letters to the Editor, Book Reviews, Conference Reports Model summary
All papers – excluding Editorials, Letters to the Editor, Book Reviews, Conference Reports – are subject to peer-review by a minimum of two and a maximum of three experts.
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
- Springer Berlin Heidelberg
- Country or region
- GERMANY
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Quarterly
- Founded
- 2001
- ISSN
- 1439-0108
- Electronic ISSN
- 1614-7480
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Journal of Soils and Sediments
What CAS zone is Journal of Soils and Sediments in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Journal of Soils and Sediments is in Zone 3 of Agricultural & Forestry Sciences, and in Zone 4 of the minor category Environmental Sciences / Soil Science. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Agricultural & Forestry Sciences. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Journal of Soils and Sediments?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 3.27; CiteScore 6.5, h-index 121.
How long does peer review take at Journal of Soils and Sediments?
Based on the dates recorded on 125 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 136 days (interquartile range 100–182 days); authors report an average review time of about 2.7 months; the community-reported acceptance is “66%”. 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 Journal of Soils and Sediments?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Reference style: Author–date; Suggested reviewers: Required, 3. 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 Journal of Soils and Sediments based?
Of the 106 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 38 (about 36%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Mainland China (38), Australia (10) and Germany (6). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Journal of Soils and Sediments?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Journal of Soils and Sediments is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists CAS, CAB Abstracts, GeoRef and Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Journal of Soils and Sediments open access, and what is the APC?
Journal of Soils and Sediments is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,890.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website; 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 2026-08-25). Last updated: .