Potential Effect of Biochar on Soil Properties, Microbial Activity and Vicia faba Properties Affected by Microplastics Contamination

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Line 67: Please write CO₂ correctly.

Lines 110-113: The font size seems smaller than the rest of the sentences

Table 1: Why does the available Fe of the control have such a very high standard deviation?

Figure 2: Include the subscripts and superscripts on the units.

Line 409: Why is part of the sentence bold while the other is not?

Please include the figure titles on the MBC and MBN graphs.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

In this study, various remediation methods were applied for the causes of microplastic pollution and for the reclamation of artificially contaminated soils with microplastics. In fact, it is aimed to prevent any negative enzymatic activity that may occur in the organic additives used and the results of the changes that may occur. In this context, biochar applications were made after soils were contaminated with microplastics, and the degradation of microplastics was carried out with a pot experiment in which a change was made in terms of plant health. The study is an original work and complies with the concept of the journal. As a result, acceptance of the study after minor changes is appropriate.

Specific comments:

Some of the sentences need some references such as " Plastics have become an indispensable aspect of modern life. Plastic is frequently utilized in modern civilization. Current production and consumption, however, are unsustainable.

In my opinion, the keywords could be changed because there are some keywords in the title and keyword section.  Furthermore, regarding microplastic pollution sources, please support these refs. a-https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-90555-8.00022-2, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-90555-8.00018-0

Please rephrase these refs

"MPs can be broken-down naturally by some process such as Photodegradation,  thermo-oxidative degradation. However, during these processes, the polymer can be  degraded into smaller particles with a molecular weight favorable to microbial decom position."

"It is clear from Figure  that microbial biomass C (MBC) increased markedly than 473 control due to the MPs addition and BC also. This supported by the previous mentioned  interpretations in the previous section. The highest MBC was obtained with 7.5%MP+BC 475 followed by 7.5%MP."

Even Author used some biochar to reduce and increase Microplastic degradation, there is little information on biochar application in the introduction and discussion, this part is needed to support. Please incorporate them in the introduction. 

Table 4 is needed to redesign. Please do it again. 

Conclusion remarks are lacking. Please add your recommendations end of the paragraph.

Best Regards

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

The MS about “Potential effect of biochar on soil properties, microbial 3 activity, and Vicia faba properties affected by microplastics contamination” the author had been investigated soil properties, plant properties (Vicia Faba), and microbial activities through a pot experiment. In my view, this draft did not be well organized and written. Many similar papers have been published, and this paper did not clearly provide some new and interesting data to the readers. On the other hand, the discussions seems too shallow and more explanation about the mechanisms should be added.

 

1 Abstract

Line 18 to Line 22 the results were affected by biochar and MPs added, and the author should give the ANOVA result which factor was important, and also present the data not only the description.

 

Line 52 This description is inaccurate, previous study had been revealed the effect of plastic residue or plastic pollution on agricultural production (Zhang et al., 2020 Plastic pollution in croplands threatens long-term food security; Gao et al.,2019 Effects of plastic mulching and plastic residue on agricultural production: A meta-analysis)

 

The introduction presented inadequate, especially on how biochar and microplastic alone or in combination on soil properties, carbon and nitrogen turnover, microbial activity and so on the author should summarize (eg Li et al., 2022 Polyethylene microplastic and biochar interactively affect the global warming potential of soil greenhouse gas emissions; Dissanayake et al., 2022 Combined effect of biochar and soil moisture on soil chemical properties and microbial community composition in microplastic-contaminated agricultural soil )

 

Table 1

The author should give the ANOVA result, Why the highest OM was observed under 7.5% MP+BC treatment other than 15% MP+BC

 

Why the Avail Fe and Mn decreased under MP AND BIOCHAR amendment, what is the mechanism?

FIG.1 should present the error bar

 

The resolution of the Fig. is not enough and also the format of the table is incorrect.

 

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx