Geochemical Characteristics of Typical Karst Soil Profiles in Anhui Province, Southeastern China

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

A manuscript entitled ‘Geochemical characteristics and significance of typical karst soil profiles in Anhui Province, Southeastern China’ by Wenbing Jiand co-authors for Agronomy provides information about ____.

 

General comments:

I suggest changing the paper title e.g., remove ‘significance’ or replace it by other term. Such title is not connected with the manuscript. Please, be more specific.

Abstract is too descriptive. It should provide scientific hypothesis and the main findings. Please, rewrite it.

Introduction is too descriptive and does not provide real background. Please, revise. Please, formulate scientific hypothesis and the aim of this research.

Section 2.1. Please, left just information that is valuable in the context of this research.

Section 2.3 should be reduced.

Section 3. Please, round up the values of analytes.

Sections 3.1 and 3.2 are too descriptive. Please, shorten them.

 

Specific comments:

Abstract. The first sentence repeats the paper title. Please, provide real introduction or background.

L.17-18. Please, provide p-value.

L.34-44. Five elements.

L.100 – 103. Please, remove.

L.149 – 150. Remove.

L.150 “Next, we measured heavy-metal samples”. What do you mean?

L.155 – 165. Remove.

Fig.3 ‘Soil profile development on different soils’. Bad English. Please, transfer fig. 3 to Supplementary.

L.265 IN addition

L.299 “in the nodules”. It was not reported in the M&M section.

L.317. Please, provide p-value.

Fig. 6 – 8, please, merge.

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Reviewer 2 Report

 

I think the paper is of sufficient quality to be published but it needs some changes.  My suggestions and doubts have been divided in 2 parts: formal and technical.

 

Formal issues (L = Line number):

 

"Agronomy" template has not been used. Page numbers have not been indicated.

 

L54, What means HM abbreviation? Please cite in full the first time

 

L75. If commas are used for thousands, please use them in all cases (e.g. L48, L71..)

 

L84. Citing brackets must be separated from the counties: Italy[1], Japan[18], and Southwest China [3-4]. Check in all text

 

L112. Separate  degree symbol (℃) from de numeric value

 

L138. Abbreviate meter unit (m)

 

L197. Indicar la procedencia y fabricante de las sustancias de referencia GSB 04-2828-2011, GSB 04-1767-2004, and GSB 197 07-3159-2014?

 

L265. Check the word “IN”.

 

Fig 1. Please, indicate the number of each sampling point in the map (i.e. PM1, PM2, PM3, etc…). You mentioned the use of GPS (G630 UniStrong) but no UTMS position/coordinates are showed in any part of the text

 

Fig 4. Please, check the word Slit , it should be Silt

 

Table 1. Please put in parenthesis the Iye units

 

Technical issues:

 

Section 2.3. Although the test methods have been cited in the text [22] they should be described at least succinctly. The devices used in the study have not been indicated

 

Can you please indicate if a correlation study has been done between the pH value in the soil and the MH levels along the profile?

 

I do not see the pH and organic matter values for the different profiles. can you indicate where these values are tabulated?

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.doc

Reviewer 3 Report

Dear Authors,

Comments and Suggestions for Authors,

The title of the manuscript is “Geochemical characteristics and significance of typical karst soil profiles in Anhui Province, Southeastern China”.  The title and abstract of this paper clearly reflect its content. The introduction presents the purpose of the research investigation The introduction can be improved with recent literature support. The study design is appropriate to answer the research question. The method is adequately explained. However, results and discussion need to improve. Tables and Figures need to improve.

The following are concerns about your manuscript.

1. Numbering style needs to improve throughout the manuscript. E.g. Lines 46, 23253 46 km2, Line 48, 52660 km2.

2. Referencing style needs to improve

3. Recent references need to add

4. What is “Corbonate rock out crop” means? In Figure 2

5. Figures 6,7, 8 legends need to improve E.g. Cd not in the figure

6. Line 335. Fig 4 is this the correct figure for this discussion?

 

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.doc

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Abstract is too descriptive. It should provide scientific hypothesis and the main findings. Please, rewrite it.

Introduction is too descriptive and does not provide real background. Please, revise. Please, formulate scientific hypothesis and the aim of this research.

Section 2.1. Please, left just information that is valuable in the context of this research.

Section 2.3 should be reduced.

Section 3. Please, round up the values of analytes.

Sections 3.1 and 3.2 are too descriptive. Please, shorten them.

Author Response

We respond to the reviewers' comments point by point. Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.doc

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear Authors

Many thanks for your improved document. In my opinion it can be accept and published in Agronomy

Author Response

We respond to the reviewers' comments point by point. Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.doc

Reviewer 3 Report

Dear Authors,

Thank you for revising the manuscript. However, I found it still needs some revision.

1. There should be an aim in the abstract. As you removed the  first line from the abstract, the aim is missing. Please add a revised sentence, explaining the aim of the study.

2. Line 24 -26 What are the values in the brackets in each element?

3. Line 44 – Four harmful elements?  Please correct this sentence.

4. Line 354 – 1.50 mg/mg? Please correct this.

5. Lines 405-406 Need a reference.

6. Fig 5-7  According to the legend, Cd indicates a black square on the line. However, in figures only have green squares on the lines. How can we find the Cd variation in figures?

Author Response

We respond to the reviewers' comments point by point. Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.doc

Round 3

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors made some corrections according to the Reviewer suggestions.

Reviewer 3 Report

Dear Author,

Thank you very much for revising the manuscript as per my quarries.