Biochar Addition and the Runoff Quality of Newly Constructed Green Roofs: A Field Study
, Juan Li 1,2, Hankun Wang 1,2, Yongbo Wu 1,2, Dongchang Li 1,2 and Jianhui Xue 1,2,3,*Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The topic of the article is interesting and applied, and its findings can be used to enrich the knowledge and technology of green roofs. The manuscript is well-written, however, I have some minor tips as follows:
1) When abbreviations are first mentioned, the original words should be included, with the abbreviated form in parentheses. For example DOC in the abstract, and TN and TP in the introduction.
2) Since the citation format in this journal is "Numbering", there is no need to include the year of references in the text of the manuscript. The cases to be corrected are highlighted in the attached file of the manuscript.
3) Please recheck the biochar ratios in table 1.
4) Figure 3 should be placed after Table 3 because Table 3 is mentioned first in the text.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Thank you for your review, this is the response we submitted, and we hope it meets your requirements.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
In the present manuscript, biochar was added to regulate the runoff quality of green roofs. The manuscript is well written with a clear structure and the data are sound. But there are still some problems with this manuscript. Thus, I recommended that this paper should be accepted after a minor revision.
1. There are many different biochar available. Why rice husk and maize straw were chosen as the feedstocks for biochar in this study?
2. Authors are suggested to characterize the properties of involved biochar, such as specific surface area and elemental composition. Specific details could refer to Water Research 2022, 221, 118797; Chem. Eng. J. 2020, 401, 126127.
3. Biochar might introduce polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other organic pollutants. Authors are suggested to evaluate the relevant risk of biochar.
4. Aside from TN, TP, NO3-, and DOC, concentration of iron and anion are also the indexes for runoff quality. Authors are suggested to add relevant data and analysis to make it more comprehensive.
Author Response
Thank you for your review, this is the response we submitted, and we hope it meets your requirements.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
The manuscript entitled “Biochar addition on the runoff quality of newly constructed green roofs: a field study” has conducted a study to evaluate the effect of different ratios of biochar on the runoff quality of newly constructed green roofs. The literature review was thorough and incorporated the sufficient of information. But still there are some important points or information lacked in the manuscript. Here are some comments for the potential revision.
1. The abstract part lacks novelty, and some parts are challenging to understand. Consult some good publications and rephrase the whole section.
2. In the abstract, before concluding, mention some result-oriented key figures/facts about the importance and efficiency of your study.
- Overall Introduction part lacks consistency; make a story link with your objectives and add more references.
- The first two paragraphs of the introduction are not interlinked, need to add more information and references in this section.
- Some sentences look meaningless in the introduction part. Need to check carefully.
- Add references in the last paragraph of the introduction part. Mention previous studies' details and references which showed the importance of this study.
- The material and method section has a considerable lack of information. Add more details.
- Use abbreviations properly in the whole manuscript.
- Make a more precise result and discussion section, compare your study with previous studies and compile your results carefully.
- Be consistent with abbreviations; provide the complete form at first, and the abbreviation can be used subsequently.
- Why leaching of TN and NO3 is higher in RH20?
- Figure 3 is too messy. Make it more clear that reader will easily understand.
- Provide proper SI unit while quoting results.
14. The discussion part needs the latest references and emphasizes information regarding your study.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Thank you for your review, this is the response we submitted, and we hope it meets your requirements.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 3 Report
Accept it in present form.
