Assessing the Evolution of Stability and Maturity in Co-Composting Sheep Manure with Green Waste Using Physico-Chemical and Biological Properties and Statistical Analyses: A Case Study of Botanique Garden in Rabat, Morocco

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors,

Comments and suggestions for the article can be found in the attached file.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The article "Assessing the evolution of stability and maturity in co-composting sheep manure with green waste using physico-chemical and biological properties and statistical analyses: a case study of Botanique garden in Rabat, Morocco" presents relevant material on the production of compost from organic waste. A method for the use of accumulated waste to improve soil properties, increasing the amount of nutrients available to plants in the soil and reducing environmental pollution, is presented.

 

Observations of a recommendatory nature:

1. The results of the studies presented in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9 lack statistical treatment of the data, and it is questionable whether the results are statistically significant.
2. The paper could provide the cost of production for different compost production options and how much compost is recommended per unit area of soil (kg ha^-1). It would then be possible to compare the cost of fertilising plants with compost versus mineral fertiliser.
3. The list of references includes some very old references: 22. Jackson, M.L. Organic Matter Determinations for Soils. In: Soil Chemical Analysis. Prentice Hall of India, Private Limited, New 611 Delhi 1967, 205-226. 26. Jackson, M.L. Organic Matter Determinations for Soils. In: Soil Chemical Analysis. Prentice Hall of India, Private Limited, New 611 Delhi 1967, 205-226. Would it be possible to replace them with newer ones?

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

While the study may not present significant innovation, it does provide relevant data. The authors have presented the core of the study in a coherent manner. I have provided some edits and comments/suggestions directly in the attached PDF. 

 

Overall, here are my specific comments and suggestions:

 

Abstract: The section is well written.

 

Introduction: The introduction is well written and justifies the study but requires linguistic spell-checking.

 

Materials and Methods: This section requires a review of the methods used for the initial physicochemical characterization of the raw materials. Please confirm whether the same methods were used in the characterization of the composted materials. Additionally, please provide the nitrogen content % in the raw materials (Table 1). This information is crucial for achieving theoretical carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratios, which varied between 30 and 40 as described in the manuscript text.

 

Results and Discussion: The section is well written.

 

Conclusion: The section is well written

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors,

Thank you for your comprehensive replies to my comments.

Please verify the results of the modified article:

In response to comment 4, the Authors state that for wheat straw (WS) the pH and EC parameters = ND. Table 1 of the modified article provides values ​​of pH = 6.5 and EC = 0.6.

Fig. 5b. If the DM content in the tested composts ranges from 95-85%, the water content is 5-15%. So why do the Authors say that the moisture content of compost is 60%?

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf