Biological and Chemical Vicissitudes in Soil Rhizosphere Arbitrated under Different Tillage, Residues Recycling and Oilseed Brassica-Based Cropping Systems

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

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Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Text editing requires a major improvement - not publishable as it is!

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This careful study of the impacts of no-till mustard seed cultivation is exemplary of the type of study needed for (1) improving the sustainable agricultural production of specific crops, and (2) adaptation to climate change .

The authors should specifically mention the potential CO2 capture benefit for moderating global (and regional) climate change, in their conclusions, with the caveat that this needs further study (see discussion in  hhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167880923001573).   Mondal et al 2023; and https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167198723001496?via%3Dihub   But also see https://agfundernews.com/policy-must-reward-not-punish-early-adopters-of-soil-health.

The study is eminently practical for farmers, and it should be shared with large and small farmers, for their discussion and application as well as shared with agricultural extension services- it could spark a new agricultural revolution like the one sparked by Integrated Pest Management.

There is no discussion of  how "weeds" in this system were controlled, nor whether there are any chemical residues that impact soil biota.   It should be mentioned that chemical residues were not assessed should be mentioned.    Also should mention that these systems do not use plastics (?) but note that many no till systems use plastics to suppress weeds, and it has been shown that microplastics left in the soil damage soil systems -e.g.,  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749122016979?via%3Dihub  -  Ju et al 2023, Environmental Pollution 316.  

A careful style editor can easily correct the minor English grammar issues.

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

A careful style editor can easily correct the many minor English grammar issues.  There are some phrases that need to be formed into sentences, some plural/singular issues . But the problems are all minor-- just needs a style editor with a careful eye to catch and correct.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Authors present the manuscript about advances of CA practices on the improvement of soil characteristics. This type of study is really important due  to the loss of SOM in soils during extensive agricultural practices. 

The introduction and discussion are very thorough and explain the reader the state of the problem. However, the research part can have some improvements.

Abstract lacks the description of the experiment (crop types used) and methodology used for the evaluating of the effects.

The manuscript lacks line numbers, which complicates the process of the review.

Materials and methods section should be improved to better explain the experiment setup and the CA practices used. In the methods section what do you mean by "Best crop management practices"?

How was the crop rotation performed?

Did you take soil samples every year during 5 year period?

Table 1-8 - are these mean values? If you use tables to illustrate data, use the standard errors. Alternatively, make data into diagrams to better visualize the results.

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The text contains a lot of typos, some spaces between words are missing. Language editing is required.

Author Response

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Thanks

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

It is a pitty that authors only focused on the soil.

Added subscript to all Figures/tables contains a spelling mistake