Seeding Time Affects Bermudagrass Establishment in the Transition Zone Environment
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
This is a significant study as it fills the knowledge gap for the establishment of bermudagrass in the transition zone environment in the Mediterranean transition zone of Europe. The experiments are well designed (split-plot) with three replicates and conducted over 2 years. The data is consistent showing that early seeding (in late March) is better than late sowing due to better establishment with a longer growing season. I suggest that the authors add a clear hypothesis and aims of the research at the end of the Introduction (as well as in the abstract).
In addition, I have the following editorial suggestions:
Page 1, Line 37 - Replace 'widespread' with 'widespread distribution'
Page 1, Line 41 - Replace 'can be found' with 'there are'
Page 2, Line 51 - Replace 'essential' with 'substantial'
Page 5, Line 160 - Replace 'negatively has' with 'have negatively'
Page 7, Line 207 - Replace 'favor' with 'favorable'
Page 7, Line 217, Line 224 - Replace 'at the emergence' with 'at emergence'
Page 7, Line 227 - Replace 'germination's thermal time requirement' with 'thermal time requirement for germination'.
Author Response
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
This is a significant study as it fills the knowledge gap for the establishment of bermudagrass in the transition zone environment in the Mediterranean transition zone of Europe. The experiments are well designed (split-plot) with three replicates and conducted over 2 years. The data is consistent showing that early seeding (in late March) is better than late sowing due to better establishment with a longer growing season. I suggest that the authors add a clear hypothesis and aims of the research at the end of the Introduction (as well as in the abstract).
The aim of the study has been clarified in both abstract and introduction.
In addition, I have the following editorial suggestions:
Page 1, Line 37 - Replace 'widespread' with 'widespread distribution'
Changed accordingly.
Page 1, Line 41 - Replace 'can be found' with 'there are'
Changed accordingly.
Page 2, Line 51 - Replace 'essential' with 'substantial'
Changed accordingly.
Page 5, Line 160 - Replace 'negatively has' with 'have negatively'
Changed accordingly.
Page 7, Line 207 - Replace 'favor' with 'favorable'
Changed accordingly.
Page 7, Line 217, Line 224 - Replace 'at the emergence' with 'at emergence'
Changed accordingly.
Page 7, Line 227 - Replace 'germination's thermal time requirement' with 'thermal time requirement for germination'.
Changed accordingly.
Reviewer 2 Report
Problems turf is very important, particularly with regard to sensitivity to dryness situations grass seed, the soil temperature and the like. Therefore, I believe that this manuscript is interesting and stimulating for areas dealing with the cultivation, establishment and maintenance of lawns.
The abstract describes the obtained results. It is written more on a more general level. I think it would be appropriate to add more specific differences, but this is more a matter of opinion. I also recommend adding an evaluation of the course of the weather in the monitored years, as the course of air temperatures and precipitation affect not only the soil temperature, but also the condition of the vegetation and the germination rate. Please supplement the origin of the seed. The methodological procedures are appropriate. The results are rather descriptive in general. I think it would be appropriate to supplement them with values, either actually measured or in relative units. Discussion is adequate, but after adding the weather will be discussed some of the findings and the results have greater explanatory power. The summary is based on the measured data and the conclusions resulting from them. Again, it is more general.
Author Response
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
Problems turf is very important, particularly with regard to sensitivity to dryness situations grass seed, the soil temperature and the like. Therefore, I believe that this manuscript is interesting and stimulating for areas dealing with the cultivation, establishment and maintenance of lawns.
The abstract describes the obtained results. It is written more on a more general level. I think it would be appropriate to add more specific differences, but this is more a matter of opinion. I also recommend adding an evaluation of the course of the weather in the monitored years, as the course of air temperatures and precipitation affect not only the soil temperature but also the condition of the vegetation and the germination rate.
A graph with air temperature during the experimental period has been added. irrigation was applied during both the germination and the establishment periods. thus, precipitation is not a determining factor, in this case. Non-limiting water supply during the establishment phase is generally recommended.
Please supplement the origin of the seed.
cultivars were selected within cultivars recently introduced to the italian turf market. certified seed was used for the study. We have clarified in the material and methods the origin of the seed.
The methodological procedures are appropriate. The results are rather descriptive in general. I think it would be appropriate to supplement them with values, either actually measured or in relative units.
Values have not been added in the results section as we think that reporting in the text data shown in tables or graphs is somewhat redundant.
Discussion is adequate, but after adding the weather will be discussed some of the findings and the results have greater explanatory power.
We agree that air temperatures and precipitation affect the condition of the vegetation and partially the germination rate. However, in our experiment, air temperatures were very similar to soil temperatures at 2.5 cm depth (lines 125-129), so we focused mainly on soil temperatures. However, a graph with air temperature from the local weather station has been added. In this experiment, water need not satisfied with rainfall is covered by artificial irrigation. As mentioned above, irrigation consisted of 5 mm daily from seeding until emergence and 10 mm every other day from emergence until full establishment (lines 106-109). We clarified in the text that irrigation was applied regardless of the natural rainfall. For this reason, precipitation data does not add significant information in discussing results.
The summary is based on the measured data and the conclusions resulting from them. Again, it is more general.
