The Impact of Sowing Date on Soil Mineral Nitrogen Uptake Efficiency and Fertilizer N Uptake Efficiency for Winter Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus L.) in Ireland
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Dear authors,
Thank you for the opportunity to meet the manuscript entitled: "The impact of sowing date on soil mineral nitrogen uptake efficiency and fertilizer N uptake efficiency for winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) in a mild climate".
In relation to climate change, new approaches to crop production are increasingly being talked about. One of them may be a change in sowing date so that the plants make the most of their production potential. For this reason, I rate the topic of the experiment positively.
In addition, I want to appreciate the duration of the experiment, which gives the manuscript credibility, also a number of monitored traits.
The first part of the abstract is fine, but in the second part it is necessary to state the most important findings of the experiment. There is a lack of information on which of the factors had the most significant impact on the observed traits. There is space for improvement.
L41 - use the same abbreviations throughout the manuscript (eg WOSR / winter OSR).
L45 - use SI writing according to journal requirements.
The MM chapter is well developed, although I recommend dividing the individual parts into subchapters. This will increase clarity.
Table 3 - I recommend adding the average of precipitations and the sum of temperatures for the entire growing season.
The biggest flaw of the manuscript is the missing chapter Conclusions. Therefore, I ask the authors to add. It is necessary to present which of the factors had the greatest / decisive influence on the monitored traits and subject for further research, respectively.
In general, I consider this manuscript to be comprehensive and of good quality. After minor revision, I recommend publishing.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 1 comments
Point1: L41- use the same abbreviations throughout the manuscript (eg, WOSR/ winter OSR).
Response1: Changes are now applied
Point2: L45-use SI writing according to journal requirements.
Response 2: kg.ha -1 substituted for kg/ha
Point 3: The MM chapter is well developed, although I recommend dividing the individual parts into subchapters. This will increase clarity.
Response 3: Three subchapters: Experiment, measurement, calculations and analysis has been added
Point 4: Table 3- I recommend adding the average of precipitation and the sum of the temperatures for the entire growing season.
Response 4: Two rows are added to the table to consider the averages of rainfall and the sum of temperature for each year.
Point5: The biggest flaw of the manuscript is the missing chapter Conclusion. Therefore, I ask the authorss to add. it is necessary to present which of the factors had the greatest/ decisive influence on the monitored traits and subject for further research, respectively.
Response 5: A conclusion chapter has now been added, finalizing results and considers future research.
Reviewer 2 Report
Manuscript agronomy-1758073 “The impact of sowing date on soil mineral nitrogen uptake efficiency and fertilizer N uptake efficiency for winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) in a mild climate”
investigated response of Brassica napus sown at different sowing dates
This manuscript was conducted to assess the applicability of UK- canopy management (CM) principles i.e., Nitrogen fertilizer application rates and different sowing dates for oilseed rape grown in Ireland.
Experiment consisted of
1. Three sowing dates (SD): mid-Aug, End-Aug and mid-Sep were set as main plots
2. Five N application strategies: Canopy Management (CM) standard, CM higher yield, CM low N rate, 22 Fix225 and zero-N at subplot level.
General Comments
1. Revise manuscript title, as the mild climate is a generalized term with diversified meanings.
2. Define abbreviation at first appearance in the text e.g., SMN (L-42), AAN (L-429).
3. Conclusion: Add a separate conclusion section
Specific comments
L-43: “decomposition of organic N sources and mineralization are dependent on soil temperature and moisture” add “largely dependent on soil temperature and moisture”
L-98: different sites mean? Different experimental plots of the same experimental station?
Table 2: Describe details of other nutrients applied, e.g., P2O5 and K2O, rates of P & K will describe how macronutrient ratios will influence plant response.
Table 3: Uniformly use tenth decimal point e.g., Rainfall in Year-1 April as 73.0; Mean Air Temperature during Year-1 August as 15.0 oC.
Table 3: LTA (Long Term Average) also mention the duration of average i.e., 1981-2010
L-225 & 226 etc: uniformly use Year-1, Year-2, Year-3, not year three.
Table 6: correct as Site-Year-3
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 2 Comments
Point 1: Revise manuscript title, as the mild climate is a generalized term with diversified meanings.
Response 1: The mild climate is now substituted with Ireland
Point 2: Define abbreviation at first appearance in the text e.g. SMN (L-42), AAN (L-429).
Response 2: Amendments has now been applied; however, the abbreviations were described firstly in the Abstract, and were no longer defined in the other sections.
Point 3: Conclusion: Add a separate conclusion section
Response 3: A conclusion chapter has now been added.
Point 4: L-43 "decomposition of organic N sources and mineralization are dependant on soil temperature and moisture" add "largely dependant on soil temperature and moisture"
Response 4: The amendment has been made.
Point 5: L-98: different sites means? Different experimental plots of the same experimental station?
Response 5: True. The sentence has been changed to show this fact.
Point 6: Table 2: Describe details of other nutrients applied e.g. P2O5 and K2O, rates of P and K will describe how macronutrient ratios will influence plant response
Response 6: This table is dealing with N application rates and strategies, as the main concern of the study is based on N applications. Phosphorous and potassium applications were controlled as mentioned in lines 116-118 and the text has been amended to give more details about soil testing and consequent fertilizer ace for P and K, a reference has also been added for this purpose.
Point 7: Table 3: Uniformly use tenth decimal point e.g., Rainfall in Year 1-April as 73.0; Mean Air Temperature during Year-1 August as 15.0
Response 7: The amendments have been applied.
Point 8: Table 3: LTA (Long Term Average) also mention the duration of average i.e., 1981-2010 L-225 & 226 etc: uniformely use Year-1, Year-2, Year-3, not year three.
Response 8: Changes are now applied
Point 9: Table 6: Correct as Site-Year-3
Response 9: Changes are now applied
