Variations in Root Morphology and Yield among Rice Varieties in Response to Potassium under Subtropical Conditions

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear Editor 

Thank you so much for choosing me to review this manuscript.

"Variation in responses of root morphology and yield to potassium among rice varieties under subtropical condition"

Actually, I found the paper interesting, even though the topic is not novel. 

The authors conducted this experiment to study how potassium levels affected the upland rice variety’s root traits and its connection to yield and yield components. The authors did a great work in this paper but the paper needs a careful revision from the authors 

The introduction is well written, but try to add more recent references

Materials and methods are well presented with sufficient information. All the required technical and ethical standards are followed in this section. But you should mention the source of the weather data.

I recommend using tables instead of (table 2:5) it's difficult to read the values from the text and the figures are not clear, tables will show the findings well.

The discussion well explained the results and it’s well written

The conclusion gave sufficient information about the authors' results

The reference section needs to revise carefully and follow the journal format  

 

 

 

Author Response

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Reviewer 2 Report

The manuscript is interesting as it focuses on evaluating the effect of five levels of potassium on root traits of three rice cultivars and their connection with yield and yield components. Overall, the experiment seems well-designed with appropriate methodology. However, there is one comment regarding Figure 1; they need to modify the date format. The results are well-presented, and the discussion is adequate.

Author Response

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Reviewer 3 Report

The paper “Variation in responses of root morphology and yield to potassium among rice varieties under subtropical condition” initiated with an interesting idea about potassium fertilization has a positive impact on root traits, development indicators, and grain output and that positive correlation results between root parameters and yields have been found, with the exception of root porosity.

The improvement of root properties, crop development, and yield brought about by K fertiliser application varied in intensity depending on the type.

The manuscript incorporates multiple good aspects, but it still needs to be refined and certain important points with regard to the impact conclusion and as well as discussion of this study need to be clarified.

L22: I strongly suggest you rewrite the abstract to inform the reader about what you have covered in your article and move the detailed abstract to “Contribution to the field/area” where it is better suited compared to the current content/research/findings.

L42: nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and use it in L56

L47: via.

L59: potassium - K

L75: cite reference at end of the text [9,15]

L76: “little research has been done” cite all little research here.

L87: “boro period” mean, add season.

L89: What factors led to the selection of the "BRRI dhan29 (inbred), Binadhan-10 (inbred), and Hira-2" varieties?

L90: add “Hira-2” after and..

L122: “The research was run in controlled condition in the net house” you already mention in L85.

L302: Fig 2. Data representation is too confusing, I suggest you make it separate like Fig.2A root number; Fig.2B: root length……. Follow the same trend for other Figs.

L 371: Table:3: remove ANOVA text

L 378: recheck the data of the harvest index

Typological, grammatical and other errors must be rectified. I strongly suggest that you spell out all abbreviations in the text the first time mentioned in the text.

 

Cross-reference all of the citations in the text with the references in the reference section and make sure that all references have a corresponding citation within the text and vice versa. 

English needs to be improved, for which they must get the assistance of someone with a native command of the English language.

Author Response

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Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report

Thank you for attending maximum comments. Despite the fact that the manuscript has undergone substantial improvements, a few additional comments still need to be addressed before the process.

Comments:

L114: (Figure 1) 月 ? 

L116: add the weblink of Department of Irrigation and Water Management, Bangladesh Agricultural Universiry, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

All figures: I suggest adding a figure graph with an error bar since some of the figures do and some do not have error bars.  

Fig. 2, 3, 4: root morphological features, Leaf area index (LAI) and total dry matter (TDM) and CGR, RGR & NAR must make/ represent it in the bar graph with error bar and lowercase letters representing significant variations among the data. 

Discussion part: English needs to be improved.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 3

Reviewer 3 Report

L144: Figure 1: In your reply, you have written that "It has been corrected accordingly. Although you did not explain it; 月? Abbreviation / explain it. Alternatively, you can display the data as Months/Years/Days/Weeks (Not in dates wise). 

L328: Fig 2. (K-O) Why is root porosity decreasing with increased levels of K? Please explain in the results section.

L450: Fig 4E: Why BRRI dhan29 showing very higher with K₃₂? Please explain in the results section. Recheck the data of NAR (mg cm² day^-1).

All figures: denoting A, B, C….. and 20 DAT, 30 DAT……………must be placed in the proper position for better understanding and visibility. Recheck the error bar with lowercase letters representing significant variations among the data.

 Required minor editing.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx