General Information
The Nigerian Journal of Soil Science (NJSS) is the official journal of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria.
It publishes original research papers, review articles, and short communications in all areas of soil science
and related disciplines. The journal particularly welcomes submissions that address soil-related issues in
Nigeria and other parts of Africa.
All manuscripts submitted to NJSS undergo a rigorous peer-review process to ensure the
highest quality of published articles. The journal uses a double-blind review system, where the
identities of both authors and reviewers are concealed from each other.
Journal Details
- ISSN: Online 2736-1411; Print 2736-142X
- Frequency: Quarterly (4 issues per year)
- Language: English
- Publisher: Soil Science Society of Nigeria
Types of Papers
Original Research Papers
These papers report original research findings that have not been published elsewhere.
They should contain new data or interpretations of existing data that contribute significantly
to the advancement of soil science. Length: 4,000-8,000 words including abstract, tables,
figures, and references.
Review Articles
Review articles provide a comprehensive analysis and evaluation of recent developments and
current trends in a specific field of soil science. These articles should synthesize existing
knowledge and identify gaps for future research. Review articles are typically invited by the
editors, but unsolicited reviews of high quality will also be considered. Length: up to 10,000 words.
Short Communications
Short communications are brief reports of significant new findings that warrant rapid publication.
They should be concise and focused on a single subject. Length: 2,000-3,000 words including all elements.
Book Reviews
Book reviews provide critical evaluations of recently published books relevant to soil science.
These reviews are typically solicited by the editors. Length: 800-1,500 words.
Manuscript Preparation
Language and Style
Manuscripts must be written in clear, grammatically correct English (British English spelling and grammar).
Authors whose native language is not English are strongly advised to have their manuscripts checked by
a native English speaker or a professional language editing service before submission.
File Format
Manuscripts should be submitted as Microsoft Word documents (.doc or .docx) or PDF files.
The text should be in single-column format with double line spacing throughout, including
abstracts, footnotes, and references. Use 12-point Times New Roman font with 2.5 cm (1 inch)
margins on all sides.
Length
Manuscripts should be concise and written in a clear, straightforward style. The recommended
length for each type of submission is provided above. Excessively long manuscripts may be returned
to authors for shortening before the review process begins.
Units of Measurement
Use the International System of Units (SI) for all measurements. If other units are mentioned,
please provide their equivalent in SI units in parentheses.
Abbreviations
Define abbreviations and acronyms at their first occurrence in both the abstract and the main text.
Ensure consistency of abbreviations throughout the article.
Manuscript Structure
Manuscripts should be arranged in the following order:
The title page should include:
- A concise and informative title (avoid abbreviations where possible)
- The full names of all authors
- The affiliations of all authors, including institution, city, and country
- The email address of the corresponding author
- A running title (short title) of no more than 50 characters including spaces
Provide a structured abstract of 250-300 words. The abstract should be self-contained and
citation-free, summarizing the purpose of the study, basic procedures, main findings, and
principal conclusions. For original research papers, the abstract should be structured with
the following subheadings: Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusion.
Provide 4-6 keywords that capture the main topics of the paper. Avoid general terms, plural
terms, and multiple concepts (avoid, for example, "and", "of"). Keywords will be used for
indexing purposes.
The introduction should clearly state the background and objectives of the research,
providing an adequate background and avoiding a detailed literature survey or a summary
of the results. End with a brief statement of what has been achieved in the study.
This section should provide sufficient detail to allow the work to be reproduced.
Methods already published should be indicated by a reference, with only relevant
modifications described. For studies involving human subjects or experimental animals,
include a statement specifying the appropriate institutional review board approval.
Results should be clear and concise. Present your results in a logical sequence in text,
tables, and figures. Do not duplicate data in tables or figures in the text.
This section should explore the significance of the results, not repeat them. A combined
Results and Discussion section may be appropriate for some papers. Avoid extensive citations
and discussion of published literature.
The main conclusions of the study may be presented in a short Conclusions section,
which may stand alone or form a subsection of the Discussion section. Highlight the
significance and implications of your findings.
Acknowledge any funding sources and individuals who provided help during the research
but are not listed as authors. Ensure that anyone named in the acknowledgments has
agreed to be mentioned.
See the References Format section below for details.
References Format
The Nigerian Journal of Soil Science follows the APA (American Psychological Association)
referencing style. References should be arranged alphabetically in the reference list and
cited in the text as follows:
In-text Citations
- Single author: (Smith, 2020) or Smith (2020)
- Two authors: (Smith & Jones, 2020) or Smith and Jones (2020)
- Three or more authors: (Smith et al., 2020) or Smith et al. (2020)
- Multiple citations: (Smith, 2020; Jones, 2021) or (Smith, 2020, 2021)
Reference List
Examples of reference formats:
Journal Article
Anikwe, M.A.N., Obi, M.E., & Agbim, N.N. (2003). Effect of crop and soil management practices on soil compatibility in maize and groundnut plots in a Paleustult of Southeastern Nigeria. Plant Soils, 253, 457–465.
Book
Gajri, P.R., Arora, V.K., & Prihar, S.S. (2002). Tillage for Sustainable Cropping. Food Products Press, New York.
Book Chapter
Anikwe, M.A.N., & Ikenganyia, E.E. (2018). Ecophysiology and Production Principles of Cassava (Manihot species) in Southeastern Nigeria. In V. Waisundara (Ed.), Cassava (pp. 105-122). IntechOpen, UK.
Website
Food and Agriculture Organization. (2021). Soil Portal. Retrieved October 15, 2021, from http://www.fao.org/soils-portal/en/
Dataset
Oguro, M., Imahiro, S., Saito, S., & Nakashizuka, T. (2015). Mortality data for Japanese oak wilt disease and surrounding forest compositions [Dataset]. Mendeley Data. https://doi.org/10.17632/xwj98nb39r.1
Tables and Figures
Tables
Tables should be submitted as editable text, not as images. They should be placed on separate
pages at the end of the manuscript, after the references section. Number tables consecutively
in accordance with their appearance in the text. Ensure that each table has a concise title,
and place explanatory matter in footnotes below the table body. Any abbreviations used in the
table should be explained in the footnotes.
Figures
Figures should be high resolution (minimum 300 dpi) and of sufficient quality for publication.
They should be numbered consecutively according to their appearance in the text. Figure captions
should be provided on a separate page after the tables, with a brief title and explanation of
any symbols used. Ensure that figures are clear and legible, with appropriate axis labels and
units clearly marked.
Preferred File Formats:
- Line Art: TIFF, EPS, or PDF formats with a resolution of at least 1000 dpi
- Halftone Art (photographs): TIFF or JPEG formats with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi
- Combination Art (line art and halftone): TIFF, EPS, or PDF formats with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi
Ethics and Policies
The Nigerian Journal of Soil Science adheres to high ethical standards in publishing.
All authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to follow these standards.
Authorship
All authors listed on a manuscript must have contributed significantly to the work reported
and must have agreed to be listed as authors. The corresponding author is responsible for
ensuring that all appropriate co-authors are included on the paper, and that all co-authors
have seen and approved the final version of the paper.
Conflict of Interest
Authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations
that could inappropriately influence their work. Examples of potential conflicts of interest
include employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony,
patent applications/registrations, and grants or other funding.
Plagiarism and Duplicate Publication
The Nigerian Journal of Soil Science uses plagiarism detection software to screen submitted manuscripts.
Manuscripts found to contain plagiarized material or that have been previously published
elsewhere will be rejected. Publication of abstracts or presentations at conferences does
not constitute prior publication.
Research Ethics
For studies involving human participants or experimental animals, appropriate institutional
review board approval is required. Authors must include a statement in the manuscript
confirming that such approval was obtained and that the study was conducted in accordance
with the relevant guidelines and regulations.
Online Submission
All manuscripts should be submitted through the journal's online submission system.
First-time users need to create an account before submitting their manuscripts.
Submission Process
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1
Create an account or log in to the journal's website
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2
Click on "Submit Manuscript" and follow the instructions
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3
Fill in all required fields and upload your manuscript files
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4
Pay the submission fee as instructed
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5
Submit your manuscript and track its status through your author dashboard
Required Files
- Cover letter (addressed to the Editor-in-Chief)
- Manuscript file (with title page, abstract, main text, references, tables, and figure captions)
- Figures (if any, as separate files)
- Supplementary material (if any)
Cover Letter Tips
Your cover letter should include:
- A brief statement of why your manuscript is suitable for the Nigerian Journal of Soil Science
- Confirmation that the work is original and has not been published or submitted elsewhere
- Declaration of any conflicts of interest
- Suggestions for potential reviewers (optional)
Publication Fees
The Nigerian Journal of Soil Science charges the following fees to support the peer-review
process and publication of the journal:
| Fee Type |
Nigerian Authors |
International Authors |
| Submission Processing Fee |
₦5,000 |
$30 |
| Publication Fee (upon acceptance) |
₦20,000 |
$100 |
Payment Information
Payment instructions will be provided during the submission process. The submission fee
must be paid before the manuscript can enter the review process. The publication fee is
only payable after the manuscript has been accepted for publication.
Payment can be made using credit/debit cards or bank transfers through our secure
online payment system.
Contact Information
For any questions or assistance regarding manuscript submission, please contact the
Editorial Office:
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