Effect of Silicon-Containing Fertilizers on the Nutritional Value of Grass–Legume Mixtures on Temporary Grasslands

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

This manuscript by Borawska-Jarmulowicz et al. investigated the effect of silicon-containing fertilizers on the nutritional value of grass-legume mixtures on temporary grasslands. Addition of appropriate amount of silicon in chemical fertilizer plays a significant role in the development of the nutritional value of grass-legume mixtures on temporary grasslands which could be essential for animal nutrition. Overall, the study is well designed and executed, data properly analysed, but methodology missed detailed information, and results was not well discussed:

1. In abstract, the authors should mention the statistical design and replications and also mention the optimum dose of silicon with chemical fertilizers in the conclusive sentence. They also should mention the utility of the findings of this research.
2. The introduction is also poorly written. It needs to be re-written. The authors did not mention specifically the problem statement and importance of silicon of this study. Line 38: This sentence is not understandable. Line 48, Under……important for what?
3. In materials and methods section, lots of important key methodology is missing limiting the reproducibility of this study. the authors should write the subheadings such as, 2.1 Experimental site, 2.2 Experimental design, 2.3 Crop husbandry, 2.4 sampling…..
4. The authors should mention the SI unit in case of P, K and Mg.
5. The authors must mention the initial N and Si content in the experimental soil.
6. How did the authors manage the fertilization system in the methodology section?
7. The authors should mention the statistical indicator in the footnote of Table 2.
8. The Figure 2 is not clear and the authors may be miss the description of Figure 2 in the results section.
9. Conclusion must be précised and consistent with the findings.
10. The English language of this manuscript must be proof read by native speaker.

 

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 1 Comments

Thank you for your reviewing and critically comments on the submitted manuscript. As per your suggestions, improving the scientific content and quality, we have revised the manuscript points by points, which are highlighted through track change mode.

 

This manuscript by Borawska-Jarmulowicz et al. investigated the effect of silicon-containing fertilizers on the nutritional value of grass-legume mixtures on temporary grasslands. Addition of appropriate amount of silicon in chemical fertilizer plays a significant role in the development of the nutritional value of grass-legume mixtures on temporary grasslands which could be essential for animal nutrition. Overall, the study is well designed and executed, data properly analysed, but methodology missed detailed information, and results was not well discussed:

 

In abstract, the authors should mention the statistical design and replications and also mention the optimum dose of silicon with chemical fertilizers in the conclusive sentence. They also should mention the utility of the findings of this research.

In the abstract we wrote information about statistical design. We did not evaluate different doses of silicon in the studies, so we could provide the results obtained with a given dose of Herbagreen or Optysil. At the end of the abstract, we added a sentence about the usefulness of the research results.

The introduction is also poorly written. It needs to be re-written.

We agree with the opinion. Appropriate additions and corrections were made in the introduction.

The authors did not mention specifically the problem statement and importance of silicon of this study.

In the current version of the manuscript, we have provided more detailed information on the state of research on the use of silicon and its validity prior to reporting the purpose of the study.

Line 38: This sentence is not understandable.

The sentence was rewritten.

The use of mixtures of grasses with legumes on arable land is important for the additional source of feed for ruminants.

Line 48, Under……important for what?

The sentence was rewritten.

The cultivation of simple grass-legume mixtures (2 - 4 components) becomes more important in conditions of intensive, short-term utilization and the demand for fodder with a higher content of nutrients (Bélanger et al. 2014, Vasileva and Naydenova 2017).

 

 

In materials and methods section, lots of important key methodology is missing limiting the reproducibility of this study. the authors should write the subheadings such as, 2.1 Experimental site, 2.2 Experimental design, 2.3 Crop husbandry, 2.4 sampling….. 

Subheadings as suggested were written.

The authors should mention the SI unit in case of P, K and Mg.

SI units were used in the revised manuscript - NPK values were given in mg / kg of soil

The authors must mention the initial N and Si content in the experimental soil.

The N content of the soil has been reported in the revised manuscript.

The content of silicon in the soil was not tested. The impact of foliar application of silicon on the content of nutrients in individual species and in the sward of mixtures was assessed.

According to Brogowski (2000) silicon is the second, after oxygen, most abundant element in earth crust and reaches 26%. In nature, it is a compound of many minerals which form rocks. Minerals containing Si are resistant to weathering processes and decomposition, hence the amount of silicon in soil solution is low).

Brogowski Z. 2000. Silicon in soil and its role in plant nutrition. Post. Nauk Rol., 6: 9-16.

How did the authors manage the fertilization system in the methodology section?

The fertilization system is described in 2.1. Experimental Design

The authors should mention the statistical indicator in the footnote of Table 2.

The statistical indicator was written in the footnote of Table 2.

The Figure 2 is not clear and the authors may be miss the description of Figure 2 in the results section.

The descrption of Figure 2 has been reported in the revised manuscript in the results section.

Conclusion must be précised and consistent with the findings.

As suggested, the conclusions were written more precisely and related to the obtained results.

The English language of this manuscript must be proof read by native speaker.

The language has been checked and corrections have been made.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments to Author

General comments

The manuscript “Effect of silicon-containing fertilizers on the nutritional value of grass-legume mixtures on temporary grasslands” deals with the effect of the addition of fertilizer containing silicon on the grass-legumes mixture. The paper is well written and will be useful for the researcher to utilize the silicon-containing fertilizer for the development of forage mix. The article fits with the scope of the journal. However, there is some concern that needs to be cleared before the paper goes for a final decision.

 

Specific comments

1. LN 33-34: One-two lines about the future prospect can be added at the end of the abstract
2. LN 42: Please add some references.
3. LN 68: Add the latest reference.
4. LN 79: Please add latest reference

https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.13307

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2020.109592

5. In the introduction part some fact about silicon deficiency can be added.
6. LN 97: Some fact about the silicon mediated mitigation of abiotic stress in terms of ROS could be added in the introduction part.
7. LN 113: How silicon induces the crude protein in grass and clover? Kindly explain in a few lines
8. LN 121: Please mention section 2.1 in the material and method section.
9. LN 227: Define abbreviation of Dg, Fb, Lp and Tp in caption also.
10. LN 229-230: Please rewrite the line.
11. LN 318-319: Please rewrite the line.
12. LN 336: Kindly cite Table 2 here for better clarity and reference.
13. The discussion part is well written with many facts and figures.
14. LN 450-451: Please rewrite the line.
15. Conclusion: In this part, the authors have discussed the conclusion of the result and discussion. It would be better if they provide some future thrust and impact of their research.

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 2 Comments

Thank you for your reviewing and critically comments on the submitted manuscript. As per your suggestions, improving the scientific content and quality, we have revised the manuscript points by points, which are highlighted through track change mode.

The manuscript “Effect of silicon-containing fertilizers on the nutritional value of grass-legume mixtures on temporary grasslands” deals with the effect of the addition of fertilizer containing silicon on the grass-legumes mixture. The paper is well written and will be useful for the researcher to utilize the silicon-containing fertilizer for the development of forage mix. The article fits with the scope of the journal. However, there is some concern that needs to be cleared before the paper goes for a final decision.

LN 33-34: One-two lines about the future prospect can be added at the end of the abstract

At the end of the abstract, a sentence was added: These results may be used in fertilization practice of temporary grassland for enhancing nutritional value, especially crude protein content and on the reduction of fiber in the sward.    

The need to continue studies on the use of silicon on grassland is mentioned in conclusions.

LN 42: Please add some references.

We added

Mălinas A.; Rotar I.; Vidican R.; Iuga V.; Păcurar F.; Mălinas C.; Moldovan C. Designing a sustainable temporary grassland system by monitoring nitrogen use efficiency. Agronomy 2020, 10(1), 149. Doi:10.3390/agronomy10010149

LN 68: Add the latest reference.

We added the latest reference

Heshmati S.; Tonn B.; Isselstein J. White clover population effects on the productivity and yield stability of mixtures with perennial ryegrass and chicory. Field Crops Res., 2020, 252, 107802. doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2020.107802.

LN 79: Please add latest reference

We added the latest reference

https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.13307

Tiwari, R.K.; Lal, M.K.; Kumar, R.; Chourasia, K.N.; Naga, K.C.; Kumar, D.; Das, S.K.; Zinta, G. Mechanistic insights on melatonin-mediated drought stress mitigation in plants. Physiol. Plant. 2021, 72, 2, Special Issue: Drought Tolerance, 1212-1226. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.13307.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2020.109592

Tiwari, R.K.; Lal, M.K., Naga, K.C.; Kumar, R.; Chourasia, K.N.; S, S.;  Kumar, D.; Sharma, S. Emerging roles of melatonin in mitigating abiotic and biotic stresses of horticultural crops, Sci. Hortic. 2020, 272. doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2020.109592.

In the introduction part some fact about silicon deficiency can be added.

We added the sentence

In plants growing under salt-stress conditions, added silicon helps in maintaining an adequate supply of essential nutrients and reduces sodium uptake and its transport to shoots (Tuna et al. 2008).

LN 97: Some fact about the silicon mediated mitigation of abiotic stress in terms of ROS could be added in the introduction part.

We added

Water deficit affects adversely photosynthesis, uptake and transport of essential nutrients and causes overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which lead to serious disorder in plant metabolism and damage in membranes. Silicon plays an important role in the resistance of plants to water stress, preventing damage and repairing it quickly, e.g. elimination of ROS and prevention of oxidative stress. Addition of silicon can enhance activity of antioxidant enzymes and concentration of antioxidant metabolites in plants growing under water stress (Reddy et al. 2004).

Reddy, A.R.; Chiatanya, K.V.; Vivekanandan M. Drought-induced responses of photosynthesis and antioxidant metabolism in higher plants. J. Plant Physiol., 2004, 161, 1189-1202.

LN 113: How silicon induces the crude protein in grass and clover? Kindly explain in a few lines

We added an explanation

In Poland, a positive effect of this element was found on the growth, development and yielding of sugar beet (Artyszak et al. 2015, Artyszak et al. 2021), and recently also of spring Triticum aestivum in organic farming (Kowalska et al. 2020). Studies of Radkowski et al. (2017) did not show a greater impact of foliar application of silicon fertilizers on the yield, but on the floristic and chemical composition of the meadow sward, especially on the content of protein in the silages. A trend towards a higher protein content might be caused by the higher share of legumes plants in the botanical composition of the meadow plants and the increased protein content in these plants. In turn, Mastalerczuk et al. (2020) showed a beneficial effect of the use of silicon on the yield of grass and clover sward as well as a higher content of crude protein and better digestibility of organic matter in organic farming. Beneficial effect on crude protein content, independent on weather conditions, was observed under multicomponent Herbagreen application.

 

LN 121: Please mention section 2.1 in the material and method section.

We have done it.

LN 227: Define abbreviation of Dg, Fb, Lp and Tp in caption also.

We have done it.

LN 229-230: Please rewrite the line.

The sentence was rewritten.

The nutritional value of individual species of grasses and legumes has changed over the years of the research, and also depended on the silicon application

LN 318-319: Please rewrite the line.

The sentence was rewritten.

Staniak et al. (2018) also confirm the possibility of cultivating F. braunii with Medicago.

LN 336: Kindly cite Table 2 here for better clarity and reference.

It was made as suggested.

The discussion part is well written with many facts and figures.

LN 450-451: Please rewrite the line.

The sentence was rewritten.

previous

The influence of silicon application on changes of the botanical composition of the sword of investigated mixtures was small.

 

currently

Our findings showed a slight effect of silicon application on changes in the botanical composition of the tested mixtures.

 

Conclusion: In this part, the authors have discussed the conclusion of the result and discussion. It would be better if they provide some future thrust and impact of their research.

As suggested, the conclusions were written more precisely and relate to the obtained results.

We added a sentence about the usefulness of the research results and the need to continue studies on the use of silicon on grassland.

 

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

I read the highlighted version. This version is much better than the previous one. Therefore, this revised version manuscript may be accepted for publication.

Reviewer 2 Report

The authors have made significant changes in the manuscript according to the reviewer's comment. However, a suggestion that from my side is that if authors are making changes in the manuscript they should mention the exact line number where the changes have been made. Best wishes to authors.