Carbon and Water Balances in a Watermelon Crop Mulched with Biodegradable Films in Mediterranean Conditions at Extended Growth Season Scale
, Alessandro Azzolini 1,*, Alessandro Ciurlia 1, Gabriele De Carolis 1, Marcello Mastrangelo 1, Valerio Minorenti 1, Alessandro Montaghi 2, Mariagrazia Piarulli 1, Sergio Ruggieri 1, Carolina Vitti 1, Nicola Martinelli 1 and Gianfranco Rana 1Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe article is interesting, innovative and of reasonable quality. I made some suggestions for improvement which are 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 AuthorsThe reviewed article deals with CO2 and H2O measurements during the growth and development of watermelon in the Mediterranean climate of Italy. The field crop was drip irrigated and mulched with biodegradable film. The experiment was carried out on an area of 4 hectares in 2023 and lasted from June to November. Measurements of CO2 and H2O fluxes by different physiological and physical processes: photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration, and evaporation were made using the eddy covariance technique. Measurements of the meteorological and soil parameters of the field were also made, as well as measurements of the physical characteristics of the watermelon.
The different parts of the work are described and illustrated in detail. The literature cited is up-to-date and closely related to the subject of the work.
Tips, comments, and questions for authors:
-Specify the type of climate according to the Köppen-Geiger classification (line 112).
-Relate the meteorological conditions in 2023 to the multiyear period. Was it an average (normal) year or was it cool or hot (dry or wet)?
-Why was a reference study (control sample) not planned? The results of the reference study could have been used to objectively assess the effect of various attributes of the field experiment on the magnitude of the CO2 and H2O fluxes studied and to compare them with the research sample. After all, that was the purpose of the work.-Why were the LAI and FB indices studied only until the first of August? (Fig. 3).
-On what basis was the conclusion "The results indicated that the mulching technique improved soil moisture by reducing soil evaporation, thereby maintaining the plants in optimal water conditions" (lines 459-460).
-In the conclusion of the work, contrast the results obtained with the observed change in the climate of the analysed region of Italy.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
