Sustainable Cotton Production through Increased Competitiveness: Analysis of Comparative Advantage and Influencing Factors of Cotton Production in Xinjiang, China

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The aim of tis research paper is to address the sustainability of cotton production in Xinjiang, China through analysing comparative advantage and influencing factors. The Reviewer wish to remark that his/her review, in addition to the overall aspects, will focus to agronomic, system sustainability, specific socio-economic aspects. Aboves also cover the "readers' expectations" for better understanding the key messages of this Manuscript. The topic is relevant, the methods of the analysis (based on historical cotton production data) are aappropriate, conclusions are based on firm analysis. Remarks, suggestions are as follows:

1. L51 "cotton output" is a bit unclear, what kind of output? (yield, fiber/grain amount)?

2. L55 "kg/hm2" probably fiber yield, please make clear in terms of kg or tons/hectare or specify the kg/hm2, not usually used in many parts of global statistics.

3. L64 "studies" please specify and refer what studies, where?

4. L88 what type of "other crops"?

5. L147 what kind of "crop area, and production"? Arable crops or?

6. L336 typo (space needed) in Figure3

7. L350 the same as above for "1.50(greater..."

8. L476-488: Extremely long sentence, should be splitted.

Chapter 4.22 and 4.2.4: wording should be made more digestible, specific, precise for readers (seed monitoring?, ecological environment?, etc.)

Also, readers may expect some socio- aspects, farmers involvement, chain organisation, capacity development, networking, etc.)

Author Response

Please see attached file.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

The article "Sustainable cotton production through increased competitiveness: Analysis of comparative advantage and influencing factors of cotton production in Xinjiang, China" brings interesting information about cotton production and competitiveness in Xinjiang. The article is well written and I have just little comments:

Abstract:

24- “…various efficiency indicator” Which efficiency indicator was really used ? it should be better say which one than various. It should be better to avoid general words such as various and others

Introduction

It is a comparative advantage of cotton production in Xinjiang, China. But a comparative with what ? other regions of China ? It is not clear in the introduction which will be compared.

67- “…and other indicators”. Which indicators ? it should be better say which one than other indicators.

70- “… maize, wheat, soybean, and peanut” There is no study of Sown area and yield per unit area applied in the comparative advantage of cotton ? if there is it should be cited, if not it should be highlighted in the introduction.

70-71 “some of the existing studies…” it should be referenced.

80-“and other methods” Which methods ?

88- “and other crops…” I think this could be deleted

92-93 – It should be referenced

94-95 – It should be referenced

102- what is GDP ?

Material e methods

120 – “1.66x106 km²” Is not it 1.66 x 100 km?

161- “This study will quantify the comparative advantage of cotton production in Xinjiang” in relation to other China’s regions ?

Results

321-324: It sounds more like a discussion than a results description

329 “to present” – It is to 2018 or to 2022 ?

330-334: It sounds more like a discussion than a results description

339 “to present” – It is to 2018 or to 2022 ?

435- “Conclusion and discussion” and L 436 “Conclusion”: It should be better to discuss the results first and then to present the conclusion at the end of the manuscript.

The discussion should be improved. The discussion section looks like more an introduction section than really discussion of the results.

The conclusion of this article is not clear for me. The conclusion should answer the objective of the manuscript.

Author Response

Please see attached file.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx