- Email: [email protected]
Reviewing papers
Geoderma Regional xxx (xxxx) xxx–xxx
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Geoderma Regional journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/geodrs
Reviewing papers
The number of soil science papers that is annually published has doubled in the past 20 years. If anything, it is a clear sign that soil science is a vibrant and a productive discipline. The adoption and development of a range of technologies combined with the need for soil centered solutions to the global environmental challenges is at the heart of the soil science vibrancy. The soil is a critical component in understanding global issues, and these require research that leads to understanding and solutions at national and regional levels. The current globalization of soil science provides a large potential to provide solutions as theory, experiences and models from elsewhere can greatly reduce efforts. This journal was started in 2014 to fill a niche, as it focuses on soil studies that increase our scientific knowledge at the national or regional scale. Since the official launch of Geoderma Regional at the World Congress of Soil Science in Korea in 2014, the journal has been supported by an active editorial board and many volunteers who have reviewed papers for the journal. The number of submission has doubled in the past year, so we have invited some new members to the board, and welcome Dominique Arrouays (France), Dian Fiantis (Indonesia), Didas Kimaro (Tanzania), Philippe Lagacherie (France), Bradley Miller (USA), Bryant Scharenbroch (USA), and Qiubing Wang (China). Since the end of 2014, Geoderma Regional published 120 papers and studies have come from 41 countries from all across the globe (Fig. 1). Onequarter of the papers came from Europe (5 papers from France), 16 papers from North America (11 papers from the USA), 18 papers from South America (16 papers from Brazil), 21 papers from Asia (6 papers from India, 5 papers from China), 7 papers from the middle East (5 papers from Iran), 12 papers from Africa (from 11 countries), 8 papers from Australia, 4 papers from New Zealand, and 4 papers had a global focus. The number of downloads of papers from ScienceDirect is shown in Fig. 2. Reviewing papers is an activity that all of us who are publishing papers have to undertake. Sometimes reviewing is hard work when a paper contains an interesting insight or novel finding but they are buried in less relevant material, or the paper is confusedly written. Haste seems to drive some authors more than scientific thoroughness. Despite increased access to the soil science literature, some papers tend to overlook or even ignore a large body of work. Some papers contain errors which are related to increasing complexity and technical sophistication. It also happens that a paper
Fig. 1. Number of papers by continent published in Geoderma Regional published between the end of 2014 and April 2017.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geodrs.2017.05.002
2352-0094/ Published by Elsevier B.V.
Geoderma Regional xxx (xxxx) xxx–xxx
Fig. 2. Downloads of Geoderma Regional papers from ScienceDirect between the end of 2014 and April 2017 (size of the circle indicates number of downloads; top 5: USA 34,600, China 7650, India, 6540, Russia, 4390, Brazil 4180).
contains nothing new but it is wonderfully dressed up. We have had a few papers that overlooked other work, but we have not had the situation whereby reviewers have made ample recommendations to cite their own work. Both these conducts are on our radar. Recommendations to reject or revise a paper require judgement, knowledge of the literature, and comprehensive understanding of the subject. Decisions are based on the reviewers' recommendations that take into account scientific rigor and novelty. We are fortunate to have an editorial board and a dedicated reviewing community who are able to evaluate most papers that are being submitted. We continue to strive for excellence and publish the best regional soil studies for global problems, and wish to thank all reviewers and authors for making Geoderma Regional a success. Alfred E. Hartemink University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Soil Science, FD Hole Soils lab, 1525 Observatory Drive, Madison 53706, USA E-mail address: [email protected]
2
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Geoderma Regional journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/geodrs
Reviewing papers
The number of soil science papers that is annually published has doubled in the past 20 years. If anything, it is a clear sign that soil science is a vibrant and a productive discipline. The adoption and development of a range of technologies combined with the need for soil centered solutions to the global environmental challenges is at the heart of the soil science vibrancy. The soil is a critical component in understanding global issues, and these require research that leads to understanding and solutions at national and regional levels. The current globalization of soil science provides a large potential to provide solutions as theory, experiences and models from elsewhere can greatly reduce efforts. This journal was started in 2014 to fill a niche, as it focuses on soil studies that increase our scientific knowledge at the national or regional scale. Since the official launch of Geoderma Regional at the World Congress of Soil Science in Korea in 2014, the journal has been supported by an active editorial board and many volunteers who have reviewed papers for the journal. The number of submission has doubled in the past year, so we have invited some new members to the board, and welcome Dominique Arrouays (France), Dian Fiantis (Indonesia), Didas Kimaro (Tanzania), Philippe Lagacherie (France), Bradley Miller (USA), Bryant Scharenbroch (USA), and Qiubing Wang (China). Since the end of 2014, Geoderma Regional published 120 papers and studies have come from 41 countries from all across the globe (Fig. 1). Onequarter of the papers came from Europe (5 papers from France), 16 papers from North America (11 papers from the USA), 18 papers from South America (16 papers from Brazil), 21 papers from Asia (6 papers from India, 5 papers from China), 7 papers from the middle East (5 papers from Iran), 12 papers from Africa (from 11 countries), 8 papers from Australia, 4 papers from New Zealand, and 4 papers had a global focus. The number of downloads of papers from ScienceDirect is shown in Fig. 2. Reviewing papers is an activity that all of us who are publishing papers have to undertake. Sometimes reviewing is hard work when a paper contains an interesting insight or novel finding but they are buried in less relevant material, or the paper is confusedly written. Haste seems to drive some authors more than scientific thoroughness. Despite increased access to the soil science literature, some papers tend to overlook or even ignore a large body of work. Some papers contain errors which are related to increasing complexity and technical sophistication. It also happens that a paper
Fig. 1. Number of papers by continent published in Geoderma Regional published between the end of 2014 and April 2017.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geodrs.2017.05.002
2352-0094/ Published by Elsevier B.V.
Geoderma Regional xxx (xxxx) xxx–xxx
Fig. 2. Downloads of Geoderma Regional papers from ScienceDirect between the end of 2014 and April 2017 (size of the circle indicates number of downloads; top 5: USA 34,600, China 7650, India, 6540, Russia, 4390, Brazil 4180).
contains nothing new but it is wonderfully dressed up. We have had a few papers that overlooked other work, but we have not had the situation whereby reviewers have made ample recommendations to cite their own work. Both these conducts are on our radar. Recommendations to reject or revise a paper require judgement, knowledge of the literature, and comprehensive understanding of the subject. Decisions are based on the reviewers' recommendations that take into account scientific rigor and novelty. We are fortunate to have an editorial board and a dedicated reviewing community who are able to evaluate most papers that are being submitted. We continue to strive for excellence and publish the best regional soil studies for global problems, and wish to thank all reviewers and authors for making Geoderma Regional a success. Alfred E. Hartemink University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Soil Science, FD Hole Soils lab, 1525 Observatory Drive, Madison 53706, USA E-mail address: [email protected]
2