A Performance Study on 3D-Printed Bioplastic Pots from Soybean By-Products
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
I find the manuscript really interesting, I consider that the experimentation is also well-selected and structured. But before being published in Sustainability I have made some recommendations to the author
From lines 82 to 90: this paragraph talks about the bibliography but lacks references. Please include some of them.
Line 157: Please, the units should be given in the International System
Line 259: please, remove the red colour of the sentence. Please, could the authors better explain what is the issue with the root cycles? Is it better to avoid it? why?
In Table 2: the results are given in cm but in some parts of the text the length units are inches so please unify and give the results in the units of the International System
Figures 8 and 10: I recommend the authors present these figures including the statistical study to easily see the significance of the differences presented.
The discussion given after Figure 8 is presented should need to be further supported, are there some comparable case studies in the bibliography that support the idea? why do the authors think these differences are caused? Is because some nutrients are in excess, please explain more in deep.
Line 373-375: Is there any reference in which this statement is supported? Have the authors thought about what could be the reason why these conditions didn't help in the same way as the tomato plants?
The overview of statistical analysis should be placed at the method section.
Why are soybean by-products selected to develop this study? Do the authors think that it would be possible to use other potential by-products?
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
We appreciate your great efforts in reviewing the manuscript in detail. We have carefully revised the manuscript and addressed all the concerns and comments being raised in the previous version. The response letter is attached here.
Sincerely
Arup Dey
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
This manuscript uses 3D printing technology to produce planting pots containing soybean hulls and soybean by-products, aiming at reducing costs and protecting the environment. It also makes a careful study of the growth indicators of two crops and draws certain conclusions. However, there are several major problems as follows:
1. The lack of analysis of the basic performance of plant pots, such as water/gas permeability, strength, additives concentration, etc., leads to the subsequent cultivation experiment can only be compared from the crop growth index, but cannot be combined with the material itself or the performance of the pot itself; A lot of the necessary work can't be put in the future work, but the manuscript.
2. Simply from the point of view of reducing cost or simplifying processing technology, the reason for choosing 3D printing is not enough, because as far as I know, simple granulation and pressing molding is easier to achieve the above goals.
3. In addition, does the 3D plant pot have good biodegradability?
Pls consider refining the language.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
We appreciate your great efforts in reviewing the manuscript in detail. We have carefully revised the manuscript and addressed all the concerns and comments being raised in the previous version. The response letter is attached here.
Sincerely
Arup Dey
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
In this paper, entitled "A Performance Study on 3D-Printed Bioplastic Pots from Soy-bean By-Products", the data is highly comprehensive and the topic is widely interesting for a broad audience. Therefore, I suggest the publication after minor revisions. Here, the issues that should be addressed:
Introduction:
The background and problematic of oil-based plastics is well introduced.
-The author may include some references in the lines 89 and 90.
Methods for producing the 3D printed pots
-There is a typing error in line 155.
-Author say that the pots were biodegradable however, there is any experiment related to this ¿did the authors do a preliminar study of the biodegradation time of the pots in the soil? Please, add this important information or justify it.
Greenhouse performance study
-Please, add the error bars in the graphics of Figure 8, Figure 10.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
We appreciate your great efforts in reviewing the manuscript in detail. We have carefully revised the manuscript and addressed all the concerns and comments being raised in the previous version. The response letter is attached here.
Sincerely
Arup Dey
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
The manuscript have improved so now can be published in Sustainability
