Phosphorus and Zinc Fertilization Influence Crop Growth Rates and Total Biomass of Coarse vs. Fine Types Rice Cultivars

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors are encourage to improve the introduction by relating the nutrient deficiency and crop yield.

The statistical package used for the data analysis is missing in the paper. This is very important and should be provided. 

The authors should provide the data on leaf area index and the grain yield to support the findings of the study

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Dear Editor

Agronomy MDPI

We are thankful to both reviewers for their useful comments and suggestions on the language and structure of our manuscript. We have modified the manuscript accordingly, and detailed corrections are listed below point by point:

1-Replies to Reviewer one

The authors are encourage to improve the introduction by relating the nutrient deficiency and crop yield.

Introduction checked and improved. Next to N and P deficiency; Zn deficiency is now considered the most widespread nutrient disorder in lowland rice^[17,18]. High soil pH appears to be the main factor associated with the widespread Zn deficiency in the calcareous soils of the Indo-Gangetic plains of India and Pakistan^[19,20].

The statistical package used for the data analysis is missing in the paper. This is very important and should be provided.

Statistical package added

The authors should provide the data on leaf area index and the grain yield to support the findings of the study.

The increase in CGR resulting from combined application of P and Zn probably may be due to their beneficial effect on leaf area index [6], dry matter partitioning [24], and higher yield and yield components [2].

Both papers published on leaf area index and grain yield are cited, please.

 [2] Amanullah; Inamullah; Alkahtani, J.; Elshikh, M.S.; Alwahibi, M.S.; Muhammad, A.; Imran; Khalid, S. 2020. Phosphorus and Zinc Fertilization Improve Productivity and Profitability of Rice Cultivars under Rice-Wheat System. Agronomy, 10: 1085.

[5] Amanullah; Inamullah; Alwahibi, M.S.; Elshikh, M.S.; Alkahtani, J.; Muhammad, A.; Khalid, S.; Imran; Ahmad, M.; Khan, N.; Ullah, S.; Ali, I. 2020. Phosphorus and Zinc Fertilization Improve Zinc Biofortification in Grains and Straw of Coarse vs. Fine Rice Genotypes. Agronomy, 10, 1155.

[6] Amanullah, Inamullah, Shah, Z., Khalil, S. K. (2016): Phosphorus and zinc interaction influence leaf area index in fine versus coarse rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes in Northwest Pakistan.  J. Plant Stress Physiol. 2, 1-8.

Thanks

Amanullah

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear authors, the article is interesting. I consider that some changes are needed for the improvement of your work. Overall, you have an article split in 2 parts. The results are hard to read and is difficult to find them in the discussion section. The main problem is the size of your tables.

L14-26 Abstract. You need to put some values for your findings instead of describing the experimental design and quantity of P an Zn. Also, say in a sentence why did you chose those 2 elements.

L58-63. Split in 3 or 4 sentences. It is too long and hard to read. Same for the next sentence (L63-66).

L69 - RCB design - write the entire name Randomized Complete Block

L70-71. Add 3 more sentences, each one for the description of Factors A, B, C in order to present the name of rice genotypes and the quantities of P and Zn. Move here the values from the abstract.

L72 - change the word hill with another one please. Same for L86.

L81-83 Data were calculated on various parameters including phenology, growth analysis, dry matter partitioning, yield and yield components, harvest index, shelling percentage, grain quality and profitability. Present just the data for this paper.

L101-104. You need to say which soft did you use for testing all data.

L105-107. Mean square and significance level for crop growth rate (CGR) from transplanting to tillering (T-T), tillering to heading (T-H), heading to physiological maturity (H-PM) and biomass yield of rice genotypes as affected by phosphorus and zinc application.

Move this part bellow table as a note

(T-T) from transplanting to tillering , (T-H) tillering to heading , (H-PM) heading to  physiological maturity 

Also, table 1 need to be presented in the result section and it need an interpretation.

L112 Crop growth rate (CGR) You have alreay presented this abreviation. Use it in text

L112-127. You need to harmonize the interpretation of table 2 and figures 1 and 2. In table 2 you have a column where is written figure 1. This is confusing. Figure 2 have no connection with table 2? Also, you said you have replications so it is better to include the comparison and statistics from LSD test in both figures in order to have statistical assurance. Expand the interpretation of your figures.

Sub-section 3.2. Crop growth rate from tillering to heading and 3.3. Crop growth rate from heading to physiological maturity, 3.4. Total biomass at harvest

Same observations as in subsection 3.1. All tables 2, 3, 4, 5 need to have a note bellow where to be explained Y, P, Zn, G in order to make them standalone. Your tables are too big, you need to condense them, there is too much space within values and take a lot of space in the article.

Conclusions - you need to put values from your results there.

Author Response

Dear Editor

Agronomy MDPI

We are thankful to both reviewers for their useful comments and suggestions on the language and structure of our manuscript. We have modified the manuscript accordingly, and detailed corrections are listed below point by point:

2-Replies to Reviewer two

Dear authors, the article is interesting. I consider that some changes are needed for the improvement of your work. Overall, you have an article split in 2 parts. The results are hard to read and is difficult to find them in the discussion section. The main problem is the size of your tables.

L14-26 Abstract. You need to put some values for your findings instead of describing the experimental design and quantity of P an Zn. Also, say in a sentence why did you chose those 2 elements.

Abstract revised.

L58-63. Split in 3 or 4 sentences. It is too long and hard to read. Same for the next sentence (L63-66).

Sentences revised.

L69 - RCB design - write the entire name Randomized Complete Block

Split to randomized complete block design

L70-71. Add 3 more sentences, each one for the description of Factors A, B, C in order to present the name of rice genotypes and the quantities of P and Zn. Move here the values from the abstract.

Revised accordingly.

L72 - change the word hill with another one please. Same for L86.

Revised accordingly

L81-83 Data were calculated on various parameters including phenology, growth analysis, dry matter partitioning, yield and yield components, harvest index, shelling percentage, grain quality and profitability. Present just the data for this paper.

Data were calculated for crop growth rate and biomass yield

L101-104. You need to say which soft did you use for testing all data.

MSTAT Statistical Software of Michigan State University was used

L105-107. Mean square and significance level for crop growth rate (CGR) from transplanting to tillering (T-T), tillering to heading (T-H), heading to physiological maturity (H-PM) and biomass yield of rice genotypes as affected by phosphorus and zinc application.

Move this part bellow table as a note

(T-T) from transplanting to tillering , (T-H) tillering to heading , (H-PM) heading to  physiological maturity

T-T = transplanting to tillering, T-H = tillering to heading, and H-PM = heading to physiological maturity

Also, table 1 need to be presented in the result section and it need an interpretation.

Table 1 interpretation made in results, thanks

L112 Crop growth rate (CGR) You have already presented this abbreviation. Use it in text

CGR = crop growth rate given and revised in text. The CGR is defined as dry matter accumulation per unit ground area per unit time

L112-127. You need to harmonize the interpretation of table 2 and figures 1 and 2. In table 2 you have a column where is written figure 1. This is confusing. Figure 2 have no connection with table 2? Also, you said you have replications so it is better to include the comparison and statistics from LSD test in both figures in order to have statistical assurance. Expand the interpretation of your figures.

Figures and Tables now properly interpreted in the text, thanks. Figures connection removed from all tables, please.

Sub-section 3.2. Crop growth rate from tillering to heading and 3.3. Crop growth rate from heading to physiological maturity, 3.4. Total biomass at harvest.

3.1, 3.2, 3.3, and 3.4 in results section (3) are correct, please

Same observations as in subsection 3.1. All tables 2, 3, 4, 5 need to have a note bellow where to be explained Y, P, Zn, G in order to make them standalone. Your tables are too big, you need to condense them, there is too much space within values and take a lot of space in the article.

All tables, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are properly explained and placed in text. Tables are relatively big because of the treatments, factors and their levels. Tables size reduced.

 Conclusions - you need to put values from your results there.

Conclusions revised and values included. The BY (19114 kg ha^-1) ranked maximum with the highest rate of 120 kg P ha^-1 and decreased to minimum (16726 kg ha^-1) in P control plots. Maximum BY (18835 kg ha^-1) was obtained with 10 kg Zn ha^-1 and the minimum BY (17566 kg ha^-1) was recorded for Zn control plots.

Thanks

Amanullah

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Thanks for following all the suggestions to improvie the manuscript

Author Response

Dear Reviewer

Thanks for your kind comments. All the useful comments of the worthy reviewer are incorporated which improved the quality of the manuscript.

Dr. Amanullah

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear authors, this form of your article is improved and now present your findings in a better manner.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer

I highly appreciate your review. I now incorporated all comments and the revised manuscript is attached, please.

Dr. Amanullah