Plagiarism Policy

Journal of Soil Science and Environment is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and publication ethics. Plagiarism, including the inappropriate use of another person's ideas, words, data, figures, or other intellectual contributions without appropriate acknowledgement, is considered a serious violation of research and publication ethics.

To support the integrity of the editorial and publication process, Journal of Soil Science and Environment uses Turnitin as a similarity-detection tool to screen submitted manuscripts.

Similarity Checking

All submitted manuscripts may be screened using Turnitin during the editorial screening process and, when necessary, at subsequent stages of the publication process.

The purpose of similarity checking is to identify potentially overlapping or duplicated content and to assist editors in evaluating the originality of a manuscript.

The Turnitin similarity report is treated as an editorial screening tool and not as an automatic determination of plagiarism. Similarity percentages may result from legitimate sources, including references, quotations, commonly used scientific terminology, methodological descriptions, institutional names, or previously published material by the authors.

Therefore, the editorial team evaluates the similarity report in its academic and contextual setting rather than relying solely on the overall similarity percentage.

Authors' Responsibilities

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their manuscripts are original and that all sources of information, ideas, data, quotations, figures, tables, and other intellectual contributions are properly acknowledged and cited.

Authors must not:

  • Copy text, ideas, data, figures, tables, or other intellectual content without appropriate attribution;

  • Submit manuscripts that have been published previously without appropriate justification and disclosure;

  • Submit the same or substantially similar manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously;

  • Reuse substantial portions of their own previously published work without appropriate citation and disclosure (self-plagiarism);

  • Manipulate text or references to conceal inappropriate reuse of previously published material; or

  • Present another person's work or ideas as their own.

Authors should ensure that all borrowed or adapted material is appropriately cited and that permission is obtained when required for copyrighted material.

Editorial Assessment

When a Turnitin report identifies substantial textual similarity, the editorial team will examine the sources and context of the similarity.

The editorial assessment may consider:

  • The overall similarity level;

  • The number and nature of matching sources;

  • The location of the overlapping text;

  • Whether the material is properly cited;

  • Whether the similarity occurs in the methods or other sections where standardized terminology may be expected;

  • Whether the manuscript contains substantial unattributed text;

  • Whether the similarity involves the authors' own previously published work; and

  • Whether there is evidence of intentional duplication or misrepresentation.

There is no single similarity percentage that automatically defines plagiarism. Editorial decisions are based on the nature, extent, location, and context of the identified similarity.

Editorial Actions

Depending on the findings, the editorial team may take one or more of the following actions:

Minor or Legitimate Similarity

If the similarity is determined to arise from properly cited quotations, references, standard terminology, methodological expressions, or other legitimate overlap, the manuscript may proceed in the editorial process.

Similarity Requiring Revision

If inappropriate similarity is identified but can reasonably be corrected, the authors may be required to revise the manuscript, provide appropriate citations, paraphrase improperly reused text, or clarify the source of the material before the manuscript proceeds to peer review or publication.

Substantial or Unattributed Similarity

If substantial unattributed text or other evidence of plagiarism is identified, the manuscript may be rejected.

The authors may also be asked to provide an explanation concerning the identified material.

Serious or Suspected Misconduct

In cases involving substantial plagiarism, systematic duplication, fabrication of sources, manipulation intended to conceal plagiarism, or other serious forms of publication misconduct, the journal may reject the manuscript and, where appropriate, refer the matter to the relevant institution or organization in accordance with applicable publication ethics principles.

Plagiarism in Published Articles

If plagiarism or serious textual duplication is discovered after an article has been published, the journal will investigate the matter.

Depending on the severity and circumstances, the journal may issue:

  • A correction;

  • An editorial notice or expression of concern; or

  • A retraction of the published article.

The appropriate action will be determined based on the seriousness of the misconduct and its implications for the integrity of the published scholarly record.

Self-Plagiarism and Duplicate Publication

The journal recognizes that authors may legitimately build upon their previous research. However, substantial reuse of previously published text, data, results, or figures without appropriate citation and disclosure may constitute self-plagiarism or redundant publication.

Authors must clearly distinguish new contributions from previously published work and must disclose relevant related publications when submitting a manuscript.

Duplicate or substantially overlapping submissions to multiple journals are not permitted.

Use of Turnitin

Turnitin is used by Journal of Soil Science and Environment to assist editors in identifying potentially overlapping content.

A Turnitin similarity score should not be interpreted as a direct measure of plagiarism. The editorial team retains responsibility for interpreting the similarity report and determining the appropriate editorial action.

The journal may conduct additional similarity checks when:

  • A reviewer raises concerns regarding originality;

  • The editor identifies potential duplication;

  • A revised manuscript contains substantial changes;

  • Concerns arise after acceptance; or

  • Concerns are raised after publication.

Confidentiality

Similarity reports and information obtained through the plagiarism-screening process are treated as part of the journal's confidential editorial records.

Such information will be used for the purposes of editorial assessment, publication ethics, and research integrity.

Commitment to Research Integrity

Journal of Soil Science and Environment is committed to ensuring that every published article represents an original and appropriately documented contribution to scientific knowledge.

The use of Turnitin, together with editorial assessment, peer review, authors' declarations, and the journal's broader publication ethics policies, forms part of the journal's commitment to maintaining a trustworthy and transparent scholarly record.