Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Manuscript ID: Forests-2577329

The authors have discussed the “Coupling relationship between vegetation community diversity and soil on highway slopes: A case study of Zhengzhou- Xinxiang section of Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Highway,” highlighting the vegetation communities pattern under the influence of different environmental variables. However, I cannot recommend this paper for publication in the Forest Journal in its present form. I think the significance and scholarly presentation of this work does not meet the expectations of this journal. The following points in the manuscript show many deficiencies:

 

1.      Revise the title of the paper according to the main idea of the paper.

2.      The abstract should be rewritten according to the journal format and avoid the numbering given in the abstract.

3.      The introduction doesn't adequately explain the scope and problems of the research topic.

4.      The first sentence of the introduction should be rephrased.

5.      Give proper citations for “However, most of the existing studies focus on the early stage of the restoration of highway slopes.”

6.      Revise the last paragraph of the introduction section by adding a research hypothesis, research question, and possible recommendations for real-world application.

7.      Write scientific names in italic form.

8.      What is the sample size for trees and shrubs vegetation sampling?

9.      The authors mentioned the slope in the title, but I could not see it as a factor concerning plant species in the main manuscript.  

10.  Only 33 plant species have been identified or reported. It seems to be a very minimum number of plants. Why?

11.  Revisit your results and revise them in scientific language.

12.  Last, the writing style of this paper is not good enough. Some sentences are too long. Generally, writing short sentences with one idea per sentence is better. It has several typos; for example, line no. 54 (pants). Authors need to proofread the paper to eliminate all of them. Authors should spend some time improving it to read the article more smoothly.

the writing style of this paper is not good enough. Some sentences are too long. Generally, writing short sentences with one idea per sentence is better. It has several typos; for example, line no. 54 (pants). Authors need to proofread the paper to eliminate all of them. Authors should spend some time improving it to read the article more smoothly.

Author Response

On behalf of all co-authors, we thank you very much for giving us an opportunity to revise our manuscript (forests-2577329), we appreciate editor and reviewers very much for your positive and constructive comments and suggestions on our manuscript entitled. Those comments are all valuable and very helpful for revising and improving our paper, as well as the important guiding significance to our research. According to your comments, the manuscript has been revised. Please see the attachment and revised manuscript for details.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

This study provides original data and information that will be an excellent contribution to documenting and understanding the role highway slope plantings can have in reducing erosion after over 20 years of establishment.  However, the writeup needs considerable additional effort to provide the background that is needed.  I suggest establishing a link through which readers can access information about the original plant list/palette, planting design, method of installation, and  current plant list.  Photographs of the site prior to planting and current pictures could also be made available.  I have provided some specific comments and re-wordings for your consideration to resolve some of the English language issues present in the paper. 

I urge you to revise the paper and re-submit it because I think your original data has great value and will be a good contribution.

 

 

Coupling relationship between vegetation community diversity and soil on highway slopes: A case study of Zhengzhou-Xinxiang section of Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Highway

Suggested title for consideration:

Linking vegetation diversity and soils on highway slopes: A case study of Zhengzhou-Xinxiang section of the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Highway

This study examines twenty-four-year-old shrub and tree plantings and their interactions with their substrate soils that were installed along highway slopes.  Overall, the paper does a good job of presenting and discussing original data.  The data presented are accurate and are an important contribution to understanding planted vegetation and soil interactions in this area of China. The paper requires substantive revision and rewriting, but then could be accepted and published.  The English is difficult to understand in places and it is hard to know the intent of various sentences.  I made some suggestions in the text (in red) that I believe will make the language more easily understood – and my intent was not to change any meanings.

 

The original planting palette, site planting design (disposition of plantings of various species, space between plants – density of planted shrubs or trees, any seeding that was done, and the original and current plant species lists were not presented, but as best I can determine, the plantings two and a half decades ago were not intended to be an emulation of adjacent habitat, rather they were species that do occur in nearby habitats that would useful in erosion control. 

Were the planted trees and shrubs of local genetic origin (if that is known)? If known, it would be good to mention it. Was the original planting just of trees and shrubs or were there understory herbaceous plantings, as well?

 

The study sites were distributed along how many kilometers of the Highway – they appear to be more-or-less evenly placed (roughly how may kilometers or meters between them – The study sites are distributed along a X kilometer section of the Highway and were ca. X kilometers apart.)

 

It would be helpful to post the original planting palette and design on a supplemental link that could be accessed by readers. It would be useful to know the density of the plantings.

 

What size were the shrubs and trees when they were planted, and was there seeding that was done at the study sites along the highways?  Were these sites monitored for plant growth and survival since their planting?  If trees or shrubs died, were they replaced?

 

What are the sizes of the study areas – are they all the same, or is there a range in size of the areas studied at the sites?

 

What is the soil type of the slopes – if it has a name.  Were the graded areas of the slopes taken down to subsoil conditions (no topsoil present at all – did excavation extend all the way down to deposits below all surface soils)?

 

Since planting of the sites two and a half decades ago, have there been weedy plants that invaded them?  If so, what are they and have they influenced the sites’ aggregation of species or interfered with (or aided) the soil-root relationships? 

 

It is not mentioned in the paper, but presumably none of the plant species introduced to the highway slopes are mycorrhizal. If any are mycorrhizal, I presume they had mycorrhizae on their roots when they were planted.

 

It would be helpful to have a complete species list for each of the planted study sites – maybe indicating if the non-planted species are native to that area of China or not (are they weedy, widespread species that colonize disturbed areas in the region?).  It would be useful to have a link to a species list of all planted or seeded species in the past, and the current species occurring at the sites.

 

Materials and Methods, sub. 3.1. Vegetation Community Research

The methods were well described and seemed suitable for the study.

 

I did not check to make certain that all references were cited somewhere in the narrative, but that would be good to verify.

 

Would it be possible to post images/photographs of the sites that are available through a link? Are there existing links that could be visited showing images of the Highway as it passes through the experimental sites – or could there be a link established with a photograph of each site? I am not sure if these sections of the Expressway encompass the study or not – if they do, it might useful have them on a site resource link along with photos of the site, etc.  (If the G4 is not the Highway studied here, my sincere apology.)

G4 Beijing–Hong Kong and Macau Expressway

https://www.wikiwand.com/en/G4_Beijing%E2%80%93Hong_Kong_and_Macau_Expressway#Media/File:China_Expwy_G4_sign_no_name.svg

 

Driving in China, driving on China's famous Beijing-Hong Kong-Macau Expressway G4｜4K HDR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=tCRNVB2JCNM

 

G4 Beijing–Hong Kong and Macau Expressway

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G4_Beijing%E2%80%93Hong_Kong_and_Macau_Expressway

 

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

I have indicated a number of recommended changes in wording that I think will enhance the clarity of the paper.  I urge you to consider them and to go over the paper again very carefully.  Some of the sentences are difficult to understand, but with revision they can be made more readily accessible.

Author Response

On behalf of all co-authors, we thank you very much for giving us an opportunity to revise our manuscript (forests-2577329), we appreciate editor and reviewers very much for your positive and constructive comments and suggestions on our manuscript entitled. Those comments are all valuable and very helpful for revising and improving our paper, as well as the important guiding significance to our research. According to your comments, the manuscript has been revised. Please see the attachment and revised manuscript for details.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

After my careful review of this revised version (forests-2577329) of the manuscript, titled " Coupling relationship between vegetation community diversity and soil on highway slopes: A case study of Zhengzhou-Xinxiang section of Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Highway". The authors have made a considerable effort to improve and clarify the manuscript. I am satisfied with the corrections made by authors, and I recommend this paper to be accepted.

 

 

Minor editing of English language required

Reviewer 2 Report

Thank you for addressing the issues raised in review so well.  I look forward to seeing your publication in the near future.