Printable PDF Version

***Note to Authors: please make sure your contact address information is clearly visible on the outside of all packages you are sending to Editors.***

Aims and Scopes

This journal provides rapid publication of articles on soil science and crop production, particularly in the areas of mineral content of soil and plants and of plant nutrition.

Manuscript Format

All parts of the manuscript should be typewritten, double-spaced, with margins of one inch on all sides. Number manuscript pages consecutively throughout the paper. Avoid abbreviations, diagrams, and reference to the text within the abstract.

Affiliation

On the title page include full names of authors, academic and/or other professional affiliations and the complete mailing address of the author to whom proofs and correspondence should be sent. Do not submit position titles.

References

Include only references to books, articles, and bulletins actually cited in the text.. Cite references within the text by author and date (Smith, 1983) (Smith et al., 1983). Prepare a reference list in accordance with the Chicago Manual of Style. Examples:

Book Chapter: Hsu, P. H. 1987. Aluminum hydroxides and oxyhydroxides. In Minerals in soil environments, eds. J. B. Nixon and S. Weed, 99-143. Madison, Wisconsin: SSSA.
Journal Article: Tian, G., and G. O. Kolawole. 2004. Comparison of various plant residues as phosphate rock amendment on Savanna soils of West Africa. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 27: 571-583.
Book: New, T. R. 1991. Insects as predators. Kensington, Australia: New South Wales University Press.

Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce copyrighted material from other sources and are required to sign an agreement for the transfer of copyright to the publisher. All accepted manuscripts, artwork, and photographs become the property of the publisher.

Manuscript Submission

Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis receives all manuscript submissions electronically via their Manuscript Central website located at http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/lcss. Manuscript Central allows for rapid and easy submission of original and revised manuscripts, as well as reviewing and internal communication between authors, editors and reviewers via a web-based platform.

Getting Started

To submit a manuscript, please follow the instructions below:

Launch your web browser (Internet Explorer 5 or higher or Netscape 6 or higher) and go to the Manuscript Central homepage (http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/lcss). Log-in or click the "Create Account" option if you are a first-time user of Manuscript Central.
If you are creating a new account:
After clicking on "Create Account" enter your name and e-mail information and click "Next". Your e-mail information is very important.
Enter your institution and address information as prompted then click "Next."
Enter a user ID and password of your choice (we recommend using your e-mail address as your user ID) and then select your area of expertise. Click "Finish" when done.
Log-in and select "Author Center."

Submitting Your Manuscript

After you have logged in, click the "Submit a Manuscript" link in the menu bar.
Enter data and answer questions as prompted.
Click on the "Next" button on each screen to save your work and advance to the next screen.
You will be prompted to upload your files:
Click on the "Browse" button and locate the file on your computer.
Select the description of the file in the drop down next to the Browse button.
When you have selected all files you wish to upload, click the "Upload" button.
Review your submission (in both PDF and HTML formats) before sending to the Editors. Click the "Submit" button when you are done reviewing.

You may stop a submission at any phase and save it to submit later. After submission, you will receive a confirmation via e-mail. You can also log-on to Manuscript Central any time to check the status of your manuscript. You will receive an e-mail once a decision has been made on your manuscript.

Manuscript Preparation

Manuscripts are to be submitted to Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis Manuscript Central Site (http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/lcss) making sure that they are formatted under the guidelines outlined above. If you do not have access to the Internet, please contact the Editorial Office by email (how can they email them without internet access?) (Communsoilsci@aol.com) or by phone 706-548-4557.

Illustrations

Illustrations submitted (line drawings, halftones, photos, photomicrographs, etc.) should be clean originals or digital files. Digital files are recommended for highest quality reproduction and should follow these guidelines:

• 300 dpi or higher
• sized to fit on journal page
• EPS, TIFF, or PSD format only
• submitted as separate files, not embedded in text files

Color illustrations will be considered for publication; however, the author will be required to bear the full cost involved in their printing and publication. The charge for the first page with color is $900.00. The next three pages with color are $450.00 each. A custom quote will be provided for color art totaling more than 4 journal pages. Good-quality color prints or files should be provided in their final size. The publisher has the right to refuse publication of color prints deemed unacceptable.

Tables and Figures

Tables and figures should not be embedded in the text, but should be included as separate sheets or files. A short descriptive title should appear above each table with a clear legend and any footnotes suitably identified below. All units must be included. Figures should be completely labeled, taking into account necessary size reduction. Captions should be typed, double-spaced, n a separate sheet. All original figures should be clearly marked in pencil on the reverse side ith the number, author's name, and top edge indicated.

Proofs

All proofs must be corrected and returned to the publisher within 48 hours of receipt. If the manuscript is not returned within the allotted time, the editor will proofread the article and it will be printed per his instruction. Only correction of typographical errors is permitted at the proof stage.

Offprints

Each corresponding author of an article will receive one complete copy of the issue in which the article appears. Reprints of an individual article are available at the time authors review page proofs. A discount is available to authors who order before print publication.