Effects of Various Environmental Conditions on the Growth of Amaranthus patulus Bertol. and Changes of Herbicide Efficacy Caused by Increasing Temperatures
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Dear Authors,
climate change affects the biology of weeds. Protection of canopies from weeds is also a big problem for producers. The topic taken up by the Authors is interesting. Limiting the work solely to weeds (without assessing phytotoxicity to the selected crop species) does not provide a complete picture. I suggest that this topic also be researched and published in a second article (as a continuation of this research).
My comments/suggestions on the manuscript:
-absence of a clearly stated research hypothesis;
- How was the leaf area determined?
- Which manufacturer's light-shielding film was used for shading (line 99)?
-How were herbicides applied? In a spray chamber?
- Table 1
→ enter the active ingredient with the same precision (number of places after the dot)
→ change the table title. The table shows active ingredients, not herbicides
→ add a column with the mode of action
- At what development stage were the soil-applied herbicides used? 3 days after seeding is too imprecise
- Table 2
→ Seeding depth given with the same precision;
- The authors confuse the active ingredient with the herbicide. Should be corrected throughout the manuscript (e.g., line 281);
- Throughout the manuscript, the Authors write Amaranthus patulus. I suggest a change to A. patulus.
-The conclusions are more of a summary. They should be thoroughly rewritten.
Please incorporate the above comments into the manuscript.
Author Response
Dear Authors,
climate change affects the biology of weeds. Protection of canopies from weeds is also a big problem for producers. The topic taken up by the Authors is interesting. Limiting the work solely to weeds (without assessing phytotoxicity to the selected crop species) does not provide a complete picture. I suggest that this topic also be researched and published in a second article (as a continuation of this research).
My comments/suggestions on the manuscript:
-absence of a clearly stated research hypothesis;
Response:
- How was the leaf area determined?
Response: Addressed in MS.
- Which manufacturer's light-shielding film was used for shading (line 99)?
Response: Addressed in MS.
-How were herbicides applied? In a spray chamber?
Response: Addressed in MS.
- Table 1
→ enter the active ingredient with the same precision (number of places after the dot)
Response: Addressed in MS.
→ change the table title. The table shows active ingredients, not herbicides
Response: Corrected.
→ add a column with the mode of action
Response: Added.
- At what development stage were the soil-applied herbicides used? 3 days after seeding is too imprecise
Response: Corrected.
- Table 2
→ Seeding depth given with the same precision;
Response: Corrected.
- The authors confuse the active ingredient with the herbicide. Should be corrected throughout the manuscript (e.g., line 281);
Response: We addressed in Materials and Method section and figures
- Throughout the manuscript, the Authors write Amaranthus patulus. I suggest a change to A. patulus.
Response: Changed.
-The conclusions are more of a summary. They should be thoroughly rewritten.
Please incorporate the above comments into the manuscript.
Response: Addressed in MS.
Reviewer 2 Report
Dear Authors!
The study aimed to assess efficiency of chemical weed control is an important topic in the modern crop production.
The subject of the manuscript concerns the chemical control of Amaranthus patulus (A. retroflexus) which is common and troublesome weed all over the world. Much effort had to be invested in carrying out the research described. Please read the comments below and include them in your manuscript before posting.
Title
Please add the name of the researcher (or abbreviation of name) who as the first described Amaranthus patulus (only in case of the first use in the manuscript).
Abstract and main text
In my opinion, it is unnecessary to use the full Latin name of Amaranthus patulus in the abstract and whole main text of manuscript – I suggest using abbreviation A. patulus.
Materials and methods
Verse 99 – please add more information about used in the experiment the light-shielding film (e.g. material, thickness, producer).
Verse 107 and 121 – please add information about ground which plastic cups were filled.
I propose to give reference to Table 1 in the chapter 2.3. Herbicide Efficacy of Amaranthus patulus Grown in a Growth Chamber with Different Temperatures.
In the main text of the chapter 2.3. Herbicide Efficacy of Amaranthus patulus Grown in a Growth Chamber with Different Temperatures and 2.4. Herbicide Efficacy on Amaranthus patulus under greenhouse conditions with different temperatures should be information regarding to using full and half doses of herbicides (active substances).
Verse 111, 119, 132, 146 – please add more information about technique of herbicide application. What tool was used for this purpose?
Verse 144-145 (The Figure 1 caption) – please correct the front (size and type).
Verse 156 – "Statistical Analysis Systems [24] software" – please check and correct citation to statistical software which was utilized in the study. In the References as No 24 there is article Chandrasena, N.
Verse 171 and 182 (The Table 2 and 3 captions) – please correct formulation "field condition" (singular) on "field conditions" (plural).
Table 2 and Table 3 – data in all columns should be written with the same accuracy.
Results and Discussion
Verse 179-180, sentence “On the other hand, the leaf area was similar regardless of the shade conditions”. This sentence should be reformulated. In my opinion, you should not write that the leaf area of A. patulus was similar when it ranged between 0.00 and 9.80 for 90% and 20% shade, respectively. The leaf area was not statistically significant but it was not similar too.
Figure 3 and Figure 5 – part “Leaf number” – I suggest adding unit on vertical axis (e.g. pcs./plant).
Verse 198-200 – please check and correct level of CO2 in these sentences. In Materials and methods, and in the Figures in Results there is 700 ppm value.
Verse 202, 205, 207-208, 343, 375 – please add Latin names of plant species.
Verse 209-210 – please change “seedling” (singular) on “seedlings” (plural).
Conclusions
At the beginning of the Conclusions, I propose to add conclusions regard to the first part of the research – influence of environmental conditions (depth of sowing, shade, temperature, level of CO2) on germination and growth of A. patulus.
Author Response
Dear Authors!
The study aimed to assess efficiency of chemical weed control is an important topic in the modern crop production.
The subject of the manuscript concerns the chemical control of Amaranthus patulus (A. retroflexus) which is common and troublesome weed all over the world. Much effort had to be invested in carrying out the research described. Please read the comments below and include them in your manuscript before posting.
Title
Please add the name of the researcher (or abbreviation of name) who as the first described Amaranthus patulus (only in case of the first use in the manuscript).
Response : Added.
Abstract and main text
In my opinion, it is unnecessary to use the full Latin name of Amaranthus patulus in the abstract and whole main text of manuscript – I suggest using abbreviation A. patulus.
Response: Corrected.
Materials and methods
Verse 99 – please add more information about used in the experiment the light-shielding film (e.g. material, thickness, producer).
Response: Added.
Verse 107 and 121 – please add information about ground which plastic cups were filled.
Response: Added.
I propose to give reference to Table 1 in the chapter 2.3. Herbicide Efficacy of Amaranthus patulus Grown in a Growth Chamber with Different Temperatures.
In the main text of the chapter 2.3. Herbicide Efficacy of Amaranthus patulus Grown in a Growth Chamber with Different Temperatures and 2.4. Herbicide Efficacy on Amaranthus patulus under greenhouse conditions with different temperatures should be information regarding to using full and half doses of herbicides (active substances).
Response: We addressed in Materials and Method section and figures
Verse 111, 119, 132, 146 – please add more information about technique of herbicide application. What tool was used for this purpose?
Response: Added.
Verse 144-145 (The Figure 1 caption) – please correct the front (size and type).
Response: Corrected.
Verse 156 – "Statistical Analysis Systems [24] software" – please check and correct citation to statistical software which was utilized in the study. In the References as No 24 there is article Chandrasena, N.
Response: Corrected.
Verse 171 and 182 (The Table 2 and 3 captions) – please correct formulation "field condition" (singular) on "field conditions" (plural).
Response: Corrected.
Table 2 and Table 3 – data in all columns should be written with the same accuracy.
Response: Corrected.
Results and Discussion
Verse 179-180, sentence “On the other hand, the leaf area was similar regardless of the shade conditions”. This sentence should be reformulated. In my opinion, you should not write that the leaf area of A. patulus was similar when it ranged between 0.00 and 9.80 for 90% and 20% shade, respectively. The leaf area was not statistically significant but it was not similar too.
Response: Corrected.
Figure 3 and Figure 5 – part “Leaf number” – I suggest adding unit on vertical axis (e.g. pcs./plant).
Response: Added.
Verse 198-200 – please check and correct level of CO2 in these sentences. In Materials and methods, and in the Figures in Results there is 700 ppm value.
Response: Corrected.
Verse 202, 205, 207-208, 343, 375 – please add Latin names of plant species.
Response: Added.
Verse 209-210 – please change “seedling” (singular) on “seedlings” (plural).
Response: Corrected.
Conclusions
At the beginning of the Conclusions, I propose to add conclusions regard to the first part of the research – influence of environmental conditions (depth of sowing, shade, temperature, level of CO2) on germination and growth of A. patulus.
Response: Added.
