Changes in Soil Properties with Combined Use of Probiotic Cultures and Organic Farming Practices in Degraded Soils of Bangladesh
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
In the abstract, remove the description of the 9 amendments applied to the soil, this detailed description should be included in the methodology.
The introduction can be extended as the topic is common in the literature.
The Material and Methods chapter needs revision. The tables named Physical properties and Chemical properties do not have ordinal numbers. Please add the number and full name, not just physical properties. These physical properties apply to the soil. In the Physical properties table, the abbreviations PD and BD should be explained below the table. Explanations appear later in the text, but should be explained immediately below the table.
The research results and discussion chapter is, in my opinion, very illegible. In the tables, the editing of the text and the recording of the result data should be improved. Explanations that have been placed under table 3 should be placed under table 1. Please note that the first two tables have not been numbered.
Please also edit the whole chapter results and discussion, the results should be described in more detail and thus extend the discussion. Some of the literature items refer to research methods from several years ago. There are a number of new research methods and similar studies on this subject that can be updated.
Author Response
Reviewer 1
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
Comments
In the abstract, remove the description of the 9 amendments applied to the soil, this detailed description should be included in the methodology.
Response: Thank you dear reviewer. The description of nine treatments has been removed from abstract and included it in the materials and methods part.
The introduction can be extended as the topic is common in the literature.
Response: Thank you for your suggestion. The introduction chapter has been improved and some new information has been added.
The Material and Methods chapter needs revision. The tables named Physical properties and Chemical properties do not have ordinal numbers. Please add the number and full name, not just physical properties. These physical properties apply to the soil. In the Physical properties table, the abbreviations PD and BD should be explained below the table. Explanations appear later in the text, but should be explained immediately below the table.
Response: We have revised the materials and methods section. The number of table has been given accordingly, the title of the table has been corrected, and the elaboration of PD and BD have been given.
The research results and discussion chapter is, in my opinion, very illegible. In the tables, the editing of the text and the recording of the result data should be improved. Explanations that have been placed under table 3 should be placed under table 1. Please note that the first two tables have not been numbered.
Response: Thank you reviewer for your constructive comments. We have tried our best to revise this part. According to you suggestion necessary rearrangement has been done.
Please also edit the whole chapter results and discussion, the results should be described in more detail and thus extend the discussion. Some of the literature items refer to research methods from several years ago. There are a number of new research methods and similar studies on this subject that can be updated.
Response: We have revised the results and discussion section and extended it with relevant reference.
Reviewer: 2
Comments to the Author:
Title is acceptable.
Response: Thank you dear reviewer for you remarks.
Abstract:
- Some data are also missing.
- Please report some results as a percentage in the abstract.
Response: The missing data have been added and some results have been included as percentage in the abstract.
-Keywords is acceptable.
Response: Thank you reviewer for your remarks.
Introduction:
- Clearly state whether your objective is novel or no.
Response: Most of the researchers considered the use of probiotic alone, there is limited work on the combined use of probiotics. There is still a need to investigate combined use of probiotics to improve soil health. So, I think our objective is novel.
- What is your research innovation and novelty?
Response: We considered the impacts of combined probiotic and organic amendments on degraded agricultural soils in Bangladesh. No similar work has been done in this case, therefore, I think our research has novelty in context of Bangladesh.
- Please write the research hypotheses at the end of the introduction.
Response: Our hypothesis has been mentioned in the introduction. The use of combined probiotics and organic amendments may protect the degradation of agricultural soils in Bangladesh.
Material and method:
- Why did you consider the size of the plots smaller?
Response: Due to land crisis the plot size was smaller however, the experiment was replicated for 3 years.
- Insufficient description of experimental design and material and methods generally.
Response: Experimental design and material and methods parts have been improved.
-The method of fertilizers and irrigation is not clear.
Response: The methods of fertilizers and irrigation application have been described.
- Write the chemical properties of organic fertilizers??
Response: The chemical properties of organic fertilizers has been included in a supplement table.
- How many centimeters deep were they added to the soil?
Response: The organic fertilizers were mixed thoroughly with soil during final land preparation. The approximate depth was 0-12 cm.
- Planting and harvesting dates, management of weeds, pests and diseases, etc. are not clear.
Response: The details of planting and harvesting dates, management of weeds, pests and diseases etc. have been described.
- Add references to the material and method of the traits being measured.
Response: Yes, the related references have been added.
Results and discussion
Results is acceptable.
Response: Thank you for your good remarks.
The discussion is not acceptable, it must be rewritten.
Response: The discussion of the results have been improved and extended.
Please report some results as figures.
Response: Thank you reviewer, as per your suggestions some results have been shown in figure.
References
More updated and new references from 2020 to 2023 should be used in the text of the article
Response: More updated and new references have been used in the text of the article.
Reviewer 3
Well written manuscript but need minor modification as follows:
Response: Thank you for your comments
-Add a paragraph in the introduction section related to soil improvement and sustainability
Response: A paragraph related to soil improvement and sustainability has been added.
-In the materials and methods section include the nine treatments used in the study.
Response: The nine treatments have been included in the materials and methods section.
Reviewer 2 Report
Reviewer:
Comments to the Author:
Title is acceptable.
Abstract:
- Some data are also missing.
- Please report some results as a percentage in the abstract.
-Keywords is acceptable.
Introduction:
- Clearly state whether your objective is novel or no.
- What is your research innovation and novelty?
- Please write the research hypotheses at the end of the introduction.
Material and method:
- Why did you consider the size of the plots smaller?
- Insufficient description of experimental design and material and methods generally.
-The method of fertilizers and irrigation is not clear.
- Write the chemical properties of organic fertilizers??
- How many centimeters deep were they added to the soil?
- Planting and harvesting dates, management of weeds, pests and diseases, etc. are not clear.
- Add references to the material and method of the traits being measured.
Results and discussion
Results is acceptable.
The discussion is not acceptable, it must be rewritten.
Please report some results as figures.
References
More updated and new references from 2020 to 2023 should be used in the text of the article
Kind regards,
Reviewer
Author Response
Reviewer: 2
Comments to the Author:
Title is acceptable.
Response: Thank you dear reviewer for you remarks.
Abstract:
- Some data are also missing.
- Please report some results as a percentage in the abstract.
Response: The missing data have been added and some results have been included as percentage in the abstract.
-Keywords is acceptable.
Response: Thank you reviewer for your remarks.
Introduction:
- Clearly state whether your objective is novel or no.
Response: Most of the researchers considered the use of probiotic alone, there is limited work on the combined use of probiotics. There is still a need to investigate combined use of probiotics to improve soil health. So, I think our objective is novel.
- What is your research innovation and novelty?
Response: We considered the impacts of combined probiotic and organic amendments on degraded agricultural soils in Bangladesh. No similar work has been done in this case, therefore, I think our research has novelty in context of Bangladesh.
- Please write the research hypotheses at the end of the introduction.
Response: Our hypothesis has been mentioned in the introduction. The use of combined probiotics and organic amendments may protect the degradation of agricultural soils in Bangladesh.
Material and method:
- Why did you consider the size of the plots smaller?
Response: Due to land crisis the plot size was smaller however, the experiment was replicated for 3 years.
- Insufficient description of experimental design and material and methods generally.
Response: Experimental design and material and methods parts have been improved.
-The method of fertilizers and irrigation is not clear.
Response: The methods of fertilizers and irrigation application have been described.
- Write the chemical properties of organic fertilizers??
Response: The chemical properties of organic fertilizers has been included in a supplement table.
- How many centimeters deep were they added to the soil?
Response: The organic fertilizers were mixed thoroughly with soil during final land preparation. The approximate depth was 0-12 cm.
- Planting and harvesting dates, management of weeds, pests and diseases, etc. are not clear.
Response: The details of planting and harvesting dates, management of weeds, pests and diseases etc. have been described.
- Add references to the material and method of the traits being measured.
Response: Yes, the related references have been added.
Results and discussion
Results is acceptable.
Response: Thank you for your good remarks.
The discussion is not acceptable, it must be rewritten.
Response: The discussion of the results have been improved and extended.
Please report some results as figures.
Response: Thank you reviewer, as per your suggestions some results have been shown in figure.
References
More updated and new references from 2020 to 2023 should be used in the text of the article
Response: More updated and new references have been used in the text of the article.
Reviewer 3 Report
Well written manuscript but need minor modification as follows:
-Add a paragraph in the introduction section related to soil improvement and sustainability
-In the materials and methods section include the nine treatments used in the study.
Author Response
Reviewer 3
Well written manuscript but need minor modification as follows:
Response: Thank you for your comments
-Add a paragraph in the introduction section related to soil improvement and sustainability
Response: A paragraph related to soil improvement and sustainability has been added.
-In the materials and methods section include the nine treatments used in the study.
Response: The nine treatments have been included in the materials and methods section.
