Mean Leaf Angles Affect Irrigation Efficiency and Physiological Responses of Tropical Species Seedling

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The manuscript presented for review concerns the issue mean leaf angles affect irrigation efficiency and physiological responses of tropical species seedling. It is an interesting issue worthy of further deepening and broadening of scientific knowledge. However, I miss a map showing the location of the study site. An interesting supplement to the manuscript would also be the photos of tropical seedling species used in this study. Pictures taken under the microscope would also be a very good complement. Figure 2 should be colored, as it is hardly legible in either form. The manuscript also requires an editorial list (additional, redundant characters appear next to the reference numbers). 

In my opinion, the manuscript is well written and exhaustive. As I indicated in the review, it lacked map and graphic data. As for me, there is a bit too much text in the manuscript, and not enough graphic additions to enhance the content and make it better in reception. Now it's easy to get distracted, and graphic additions keep the reader's attention and interest.

Reserch methods and analysis are well written and they do not need significant modification - photos of the tested species would be nice, but it is not a big substantive objection. Also the graph, due to the fact that it is in grayscale, is difficult to read. The manuscript plan itself, execution and description are correct. 

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

In this paper, the effect of leaf angle on the irrigation efficiency of forest nursery under different irrigation rates was studied in order to maintain profitability and minimize environmental impact. It is of great scientific significance to save water and improve the survival rate of forest nursery. However, there is a major revision. As follows:

(1)  In introduction, the author has not read a lot of literature on the effects of increasing survival rate of forest nursery afforestation and leaf angle on plant growth and water use efficiency, the scientific problems which need to be solved urgently in this paper are not put forward.

(2)  In this paper, the location map of the study area is absent, and the description of the regional climate is not detailed.

(3)  In “Experimental Design and Treatments”, what are 18 treatments? What are the six species? What is the irrigation amount?

(4)  In line 108-111, how to ensure that the average height did not differ statistically?

(5)  Why do you study leaching fraction, leaf water potential, stomatal conductance, relative water content, and so on about the plants?

(6)  In line 253, “In contrast, some species……”，what are some species?

(7)  How do you analyze effects of interaction between mean leaf angle and irrigation depth on leaching fraction and total dry mass of seedlings? How do you get these values in Table 2 and 3?

(8)  The discussion is a bit confused. Could you discuss it in several aspects?

(9)  In conclusion, how much have leaf water potential, stomatal conductance, leaf relative water content, and so on gone up when mean leaf angles are positive?

I am sorry I have to suggest rejection.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

I believe the manuscript has been sufficiently improved to warrant publication in Forests.