Focus and Scope

Open Soil Science and Environment

Open Soil Science and Environment is a peer-reviewed Open Access journal that publishes high-quality original research and review articles in soil science and soil-driven environmental processes. The journal emphasizes process-based and system-oriented studies that elucidate soil functioning under natural, agricultural, and managed ecosystems. Environmental aspects are addressed where they are directly mediated by soil processes and soil management.

Areas of Focus and Scope

  1. Soil Physical Properties and Processes
    Soil structure, aggregation, porosity, compaction, soil strength, erosion, and physical constraints affecting soil functioning.

  2. Soil Chemical Properties and Nutrient Dynamics
    Soil pH, salinity, sodicity, cation exchange processes, nutrient availability, and chemical transformations in soils.

  3. Soil Organic Matter and Carbon Cycling
    Stabilization and turnover of soil organic matter, soil carbon sequestration, priming effects, and soil–carbon–climate interactions.

  4. Soil Biology, Microbial Ecology, and Soil Fauna
    Microbial diversity, enzymatic activities, soil food webs, and the role of micro- and mesofauna in soil ecosystem functioning.

  5. Soil–Plant–Rhizosphere Interactions
    Root–soil interactions, rhizosphere processes, nutrient acquisition, and soil factors controlling plant productivity.

  6. Soil Fertility and Soil Amendment Technologies
    Nutrient management strategies, soil conditioners, biochar, organic amendments, and their impacts on soil quality and crop performance.

  7. Soil Degradation, Conservation, and Restoration
    Processes of soil degradation (erosion, acidification, salinization, compaction), conservation practices, and restoration of degraded soils.

  8. Soil Water Processes and Hydrological Functions
    Soil moisture dynamics, infiltration, percolation, water retention, and soil controls on hydrological responses.

  9. Soil Pollution and Contaminant Behavior
    Fate, transport, and bioavailability of trace elements, pesticides, excess nutrients, and emerging contaminants in soils.

  10. Soil Remediation and Risk Management
    Soil-based remediation strategies, risk assessment, and management of contaminated and disturbed soils.

  11. Soil–Environment–Climate Interactions
    Soil-mediated greenhouse gas emissions, soil resilience to climate variability, and feedbacks between soil processes and climate change.

  12. Soil Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
    Soil biodiversity, functional diversity, and soil contributions to ecosystem services and environmental sustainability.

  13. Land Use Change and Soil System Responses
    Impacts of land use and land management changes on soil properties, soil functions, and soil environmental performance.

  14. Waste Reuse, Residue Management, and Circular Soil Systems
    Recycling of organic and inorganic wastes, waste-derived soil amendments, nutrient recovery, and circular economy approaches in soil systems.

  15. Innovations in Soil Analysis, Digital Soil Science, and Modeling
    Advanced analytical methods, digital soil mapping, statistical tools, and process-based models for soil and environmental assessment.