Enhancing Sugarcane Growth and Improving Soil Quality by Using a Network-Structured Fertilizer Synergist
, Naiqin Zhong 1,2,4,* and Pan Zhao 1,2,4,*
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
File attach
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Dear Editor
Thank you for inviting me for reviewing a MS entitled Enhancing sugarcane growth and improving soil quality by 2 using a network-structured fertilizer synergist. This is an interesting study regarding soil health in context of fertilization load. The results are interesting however, the paper has not adequately addressed the scientific argument on nutrient use efficiency and use of fertilization for crop productivity increment. I would like to suggest improving the writing, particularly the introduction and discussion part.
Here are few suggestions
Introduction: I think this should begin with nutrient use efficiency and use of fertilizer for crop productivity improvement. I recommend the first paragraph of introduction be shifted to second paragraph. (second paragraph first then first paragraph about sugarcane and China).
The objectives are not clearly mentioned at the end of introduction, first general objective and specific objective. Line 76-79 are irrelevant, one has to be in methods section and the other should be in results (Line78)
Methods
I was expecting study area here first.
Any reference for preparation of FS and leaching test? If it is constructed as a new, still there could be related references, please check.
Line 111 (ASAP 2020)….?? Is it citation?
Results
Figure 5 a, b, c in bar graph not specified, similarly meaning of * (same for Figure 7)
Discussion
It has to be thoroughly revised
Line 293-303 it has to come after the main result of present study.
Please mention the main point of the results then only what does the result mean?
Table 3 would be ideal to keep in results, what about its data source? Plz mention
Conclusion
Please mention overall conclusion of the study, and a line for further improvement of the results and way forward.
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Remarks:
Page 2, line 78: "The results showed that FS had a positive impact on the yield and quality of sugarcane." This sentence should be placed in the "Conclusion" chapter.
Page 2, line 81: "In addition, the study provides and efficient FS that is a safe, convenient and stable alternative agent to increase the fertilizer efficiency." This sentence should be placed in the "Conclusion" chapter.
Page 4, line 144: The title of subsection 3.1 should be changed. For example "FS ability to control leaching loss".
Page 6, line 199: Title of sub-subchapter 3.3.1. should be changed, because it does not match the text. Universality in different regions is not explained in the text, except to refer to Table 1.
Page 9, line 236: Explain at which growth stages the values for chlorophyll content were obtained. Only the percentages are listed here (9.87%, 3.82%, 4.06% and 14.92%).
Page 9, line 255: The title of sub-sub-chapter 3.3.4 resembles a conclusion. Please change. For example "FS affects the physico-chemical properties of the soil".
Page 10, line 276: The title of sub-chapter 3.3.5 resembles a conclusion. Please change. For example "The effect of FS on bacterial diversity in the soil rhizosphere".
Page 10, line 278: The beginning of the sentence "We therefore analyzed the Alpha-diversity of the bacterial...." please change it to "We therefore analyzed Alpha-bacteria diversity..." or "We therefore analyzed diversity of Alpha-bacteria..."
Page 10, line 280: The abbreviation OTU is known, but still, please state the full name and the abbreviation in brackets.
Page 12, line 331: "... diversity of bacterial...", please change to: "... diversity of bacteria".
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
The manuscript has been revised as per comments provided by me, so I recommend to accept the manuscript in present form.
