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Agronomy
Volume 15
Issue 4
10.3390/agronomy15040902
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Article
Peer-Review Record

Nutrient Solution Selection Modulates Growth Patterns and Leaf Elemental Accumulation in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) Grown

Agronomy 2025, 15(4), 902; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15040902
by Jiaqing Li 1,2,†, Yingjian Zhu 1,2,†, Zhenwu Wei 1,2,*, Haowen Chen 1,2, Chuanjie Wang 1,2, Kai Cao 3 and Xian Zhang 3
Reviewer 1:
Edgar Gutiérrez
Reviewer 2:
Bikram K. Das
Agronomy 2025, 15(4), 902; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15040902
Submission received: 3 March 2025 / Revised: 29 March 2025 / Accepted: 2 April 2025 / Published: 4 April 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Authors are advised to introduce changes to the justification of this paper.

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 authors explored different nutrient solutions (MS, Hoagland, B5, and RO-control) on Alfalfa (Medicago sativa BC4). The experiment design, data collection methods, and analysis is robust. The findings suggest that MS substantially boost 3 – essential elements in leaves which can be beneficial for animals. The experiment was done in potted soil and may not be directly implied to field experiment however the findings draw out important conclusions towards the use of nutrient solutions for alfalfa cultivation which in turn would improve animal husbandry and health. The statistical analysis and data interpretation is done exceptionally well.

I have the following comments and suggestions:

Comments:

  1. Please explain what could have caused high protein concentrations in CK despite nearly zero nutritional value in the discussions. (with reference to line 293 from results)
  2. If possible, please include elemental analysis of soil samples before and after the pot experiment. This would help to understand the changes in soil chemical composition with nutrient supplementation.
  3. It is understood that the presence of Nitrogen in the soil can affect the nodulation and nitrogen fixation. Did you observe any changes in the nodulation under different treatments? Please expand Line 357 with your observations.

Suggestions:

Line 41 and 42: Please add information regarding the use of nutrient solution as a soil fertility and management practice.

Line 99: Please expand on the differences between the 3 nutrient solutions and how you have used to draw conclusions regarding their use in nitrogen – deficient soils.

Line 166: Please add why Coomassie G-250 approach was used instead of using other existing methods such as Kjeldahl reference method.

Line 239: Figure 1 legend: Please state the units on both x & y – axis.

 

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

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