Soil Ecology Letters

Aims & Scope

Soil Ecology Letters (SEL) provides the rapid publication of original research articles of scientific significance that depict and explain ecological processes occurring in soil.

Manuscripts concerning the ecology of all taxa and in any biome in the soil will be considered, and selected on the basis of their originality, common interest and contribution to the development of soil ecology.

This journal focuses on the ecology and biogeochemical processes of soil organisms, their interactions with plants and their influences on soil functions, ecosystem services and environmental sustainability, as well as the development and applications of new technologies, theories and modeling of soil ecological processes.

In addition to full-length research articles, the journal also publishes perspectives, which present novel essays for a wide audience; mini-reviews of contemporary studies, which highlight novel and significant hypotheses; and rapid reports on content meriting urgent coverage; as well as letters to the editor and commentaries on specific and controversial issues in soil ecology.

The scope of Soil Ecology Letters is extensive and includes all aspects of recent research in soil ecology.

Focus topics include soil biodiversity, soil trophic interactions and food webs, the soil microbiome, soil-plant interactions, soil biogeochemical cycling, soil bioremediation and restoration, soil multi-functionality, response and adaptation of soil biota to environmental changes, and breakthrough technologies, novel theories and modeling of soil ecological processes.

View Aims & Scope

---

Metrics & Ranking

Impact Factor

Year	Value
2025	4.3
2024	4.50

SJR (SCImago Journal Rank)

Year	Value
2024	1.150

Quartile

Year	Value
2024	Q1

h-index

Year	Value
2024	24

Journal Rank

Year	Value
2024	3834

Journal Citation Indicator

Year	Value
2024	606

---

---

Abstracting & Indexing

Journal is indexed in leading academic databases, ensuring global visibility and accessibility of our peer-reviewed research.

• Scopus
• Google Scholar
• Web of Science

---

Subjects & Keywords

Journal’s research areas, covering key disciplines and specialized sub-topics in Agricultural and Biological Sciences and Environmental Science, designed to support cutting-edge academic discovery.

---

Most Cited Articles

The Most Cited Articles section features the journal's most impactful research, based on citation counts. These articles have been referenced frequently by other researchers, indicating their significant contribution to their respective fields.

• Root exudates mediate plant defense against foliar pathogens by recruiting beneficial microbes

  Citation: 123

  Authors: Tao, Mengli, Jun, George A., Qirong

• Soil microbial carbon pump: Mechanism and appraisal

  Citation: 118

  Authors: Chao

• Loss of soil microbial diversity exacerbates spread of antibiotic resistance

  Citation: 102

  Authors: Qing-Lin, Xin-Li, Bang-Xiao, Michael, Josep, Li, Jian-Qiang, Yong-Guan

• Soil biofilms: microbial interactions, challenges, and advanced techniques for ex-situ characterization

  Citation: 86

  Authors: Peng, Xiaojie, Yichao, Chunhui, Monika, Patricia A., Marc, Qiaoyun

• Microplastic fiber and drought effects on plants and soil are only slightly modified by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

  Citation: 85

  Authors: Anika, Eva F., Linshan, Joana, Anja, Matthias C.

• AOA and AOB communities respond differently to changes of soil pH under long-term fertilization

  Citation: 73

  Authors: Ruibo, David D., Daozhong, Xisheng, Haiyan

• Revisiting mycorrhizal dogmas: Are mycorrhizas really functioning as they are widely believed to do?

  Citation: 60

  Authors: Felipe E., Kingsley W., Hans

• Tire abrasion particles negatively affect plant growth even at low concentrations and alter soil biogeochemical cycling

  Citation: 58

  Authors: Eva F., Hanna L., Erik, Masahiro, Matthias C.

• High manure load reduces bacterial diversity and network complexity in a paddy soil under crop rotations

  Citation: 56

  Authors: Haiyang, Xing, Wenfeng, Hongjie, Jianming, Yong

• Arbuscular mycorrhiza and plant chromium tolerance

  Citation: 55

  Authors: Songlin, Xin, Longbin, Baodong

---