Study on the Crop Suitability and Planting Structure Optimization in Typical Grain Production Areas under the Influence of Human Activities and Climate Change: A Case Study of the Naoli River Basin in Northeast China

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

*The introduction needs to provide a more detailed background on the research area. Clearly state the research objectives, the significance of the study, and the context of crop suitability in the Naoli River Basin. 

* Start the discussion section by revisiting the research objectives and summarizing how the findings align with these objectives. This will help readers understand the context and relevance of the discussion.

*The discussion of human activity factors influencing crop distribution is important. However, it would be beneficial to provide more concrete examples or case studies to illustrate these points. How, specifically, do population density and accessibility affect crop distribution?

*While you mention that your findings align with research by Wezel et al. and others, it would be helpful to provide a bit more context about these studies. Briefly discuss their methodologies and key findings to give readers a better sense of how your research fits into the existing literature.

*The discussion on the impact of ecological and water factors is crucial. You could emphasize the practical implications of these findings for environmental and water resource management in the region.

*Review the language for clarity and conciseness. Some sentences are lengthy and may benefit from breaking them into smaller, more digestible segments.

*Some sentences are quite long and complex. Break them into smaller sentences for better readability. For example, consider splitting up lengthy sentences like, "In the past, most research focused on the impact of climate change on crops, and most studies delineated suitable areas of crops on the basis of historical climate change."

*Strive for conciseness by avoiding unnecessary repetitions. For example, in the sentence, "This study found that after introducing human activity variables, population density, accessibility of water and road networks, soil fertility, bioclimatic variables, and terrain," you can simplify it to "This study found that introducing human activity variables, including population density, water and road accessibility, soil fertility, bioclimatic variables, and terrain..."

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Review the language for clarity and conciseness. Some sentences are lengthy and may benefit from breaking them into smaller, more digestible segments

Author Response

Dear reviewer,

Thank you very much for your valuable comments and suggestions.
We have improved the article and answered the corresponding questions as follows:

*The introduction needs to provide a more detailed background on the research area. Clearly state the research objectives, the significance of the study, and the context of crop suitability in the Naoli River Basin.

Response:

Thank you for the comments.

We clearly stated the research objectives, the significance of the study, and the context of crop suitability in the Naoli River Basin. The modifications are given in the second to fourth last paragraphs of the introduction.

 

* Start the discussion section by revisiting the research objectives and summarizing how the findings align with these objectives. This will help readers understand the context and relevance of the discussion.

Response:

Thank you for the comments.

We have added the relative context for revisiting the research objectives and summarizing how the findings align with these objectives at the head of the discussion section.

 

*The discussion of human activity factors influencing crop distribution is important. However, it would be beneficial to provide more concrete examples or case studies to illustrate these points. How, specifically, do population density and accessibility affect crop distribution?

Response:

Thank you for the comments.

We have added a section to describe the effect of population density, accessibility and some other human activity factors. It’s shown in ‘4.3. Impact of human activities on planting structures’.

 

*While you mention that your findings align with research by Wezel et al. and others, it would be helpful to provide a bit more context about these studies. Briefly discuss their methodologies and key findings to give readers a better sense of how your research fits into the existing literature.

Response:

Thank you for the comments.

We have added the content about the related studies and discuss their methodologies and key findings to give readers a better sense of how your research fits into the existing literature. Please see section 4.1. Factors Affecting Crop Optimization Layout.

 

*The discussion on the impact of ecological and water factors is crucial. You could emphasize the practical implications of these findings for environmental and water resource management in the region.

Response:

Thank you for the comments.

We have added the content about the impact of ecological and water factors. Please see the last 2 paragraphs of section 4.4.

 

*Review the language for clarity and conciseness. Some sentences are lengthy and may benefit from breaking them into smaller, more digestible segments.

Response:

Thank you for the comments.

We have checked the whole manuscript and improved the language expression.

 

*Some sentences are quite long and complex. Break them into smaller sentences for better readability. For example, consider splitting up lengthy sentences like, "In the past, most research focused on the impact of climate change on crops, and most studies delineated suitable areas of crops on the basis of historical climate change."

Response:

Thank you very much for the suggestion!

We have modified it.

 

*Strive for conciseness by avoiding unnecessary repetitions. For example, in the sentence, "This study found that after introducing human activity variables, population density, accessibility of water and road networks, soil fertility, bioclimatic variables, and terrain," you can simplify it to "This study found that introducing human activity variables, including population density, water and road accessibility, soil fertility, bioclimatic variables, and terrain..."

Response:

Thank you very much for the suggestion!

We have modified it.

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Review the language for clarity and conciseness. Some sentences are lengthy and may benefit from breaking them into smaller, more digestible segments.

Response:

Thank you for the comments.

We have checked the whole manuscript and improved the language expression.

 

 

 

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

1 The author should summarize in the abstract the optimal planting structure for the region under the current human activity and climate change.

2 What does Bioclimate mean? The author should give an explanation so that the reader can better understand the paper. Does the bioclimate include atmospheric carbon dioxide?

3 Line 509 Except for the SSP-12.6 low-emission scenario... Should SSP1-2.6?

4 Please confirm the journal name of the reference, e.g 4 Water-sui

Author Response

Dear reviewer,

Thank you very much for your valuable comments and suggestions.
We have improved the article and answered the corresponding questions as follows:

1 The author should summarize in the abstract the optimal planting structure for the region under the current human activity and climate change.

Response:

Thank you for the suggestion!

We added the conclusions of the optimal planting structure for the region into the abstract.

 

2 What does Bioclimate mean? The author should give an explanation so that the reader can better understand the paper. Does the bioclimate include atmospheric carbon dioxide?

Response:

Thank you very much!

We are very sorry that the description of "Bioclimate" is inaccurate and should align with the description of "Bioclimatic variables" as the same in the main text. We have made the necessary modifications in this regard.

Additionally, in the main text, we have further elaborated on the relevant data, provided corresponding references and web links to facilitate a better understanding for readers.

 

3 Line 509 Except for the SSP-12.6 low-emission scenario... Should SSP1-2.6?

Response:

Thanks very much!

We apologies for the mistake. The correct notation for SSP-12.6 should be SSP1-2.6.

 

4 Please confirm the journal name of the reference, e.g 4 Water-sui

Response:

Thank you for your comments.

We have reviewed the references throughout the entire manuscript and have made corrections to any incorrect formatting.

 

 

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

No more comments