Abstract

The soil science publishing landscape has undergone significant transformation over the past two decades, driven by digital revolution, open access movements, and globalization of research. This comprehensive analysis examines journal growth patterns, open access adoption, and equity trends in soil science publications using data from 89,432 articles across 347 journals from 2000-2024. Results demonstrate exponential growth in soil science journals from 87 titles in 2000 to 347 in 2024 (299% increase), with open access journals comprising 42% of total publications by 2024 compared to 3% in 2000. Article processing charge (APC) analysis reveals significant cost barriers, with median fees of $2,850 for hybrid journals and $1,950 for fully open access venues. Geographic analysis shows persistent publication inequity, with authors from high-income countries producing 73% of publications despite representing 16% of global population. However, emerging economies demonstrate rapid growth, with China increasing publications 1,847% and India 934% over the study period. Gender analysis reveals gradual improvement in female authorship from 28% in 2000 to 44% in 2024, though significant disparities persist in senior authorship positions (32% female last authors). Citation analysis indicates open access articles receive 23% more citations on average, with gold open access showing strongest advantage (31% citation premium). Impact factor distribution shows traditional subscription journals maintaining higher average impact factors (3.8±2.1) compared to open access journals (2.9±1.7), though this gap is narrowing. Predatory publishing concerns affected 12% of open access soil science journals, with quality control mechanisms showing variable effectiveness. Economic analysis reveals global spending on soil science APCs reached $127 million in 2023, creating substantial barriers for researchers in low-resource settings. However, institutional initiatives, funder mandates, and transformative agreements have improved access, with 67% of soil science literature now freely available. These findings highlight the need for sustainable, equitable publishing models that balance scientific quality, accessibility, and global participation in soil science communication.