Effect of Maize (Zeal mays) and Soybean (Glycine max) Intercropping on Yield and Root Development in Xinjiang, China

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors presented a study based on the intercropping technique to increase the yield of maize and soybean, two important crops for agriculture in the Chinese region. The study is successful in terms of application and presentation. Some minor revisions are needed.

1) Add a description for RLD in the abstract.

2) The introduction contains a lot of precise information. However, there are very few references, especially Paragraph 3 (lines 48-66).

3) Although studies for intercropping with maize and soybean are few, they should be discussed in this study.

4) For which agricultural products, different from corn-soybean, the intercropping method can be applied. Should there be a special criterion? Discuss.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear Authors,

I am very glad that I could review the manuscript entitled "Maize (Zea mays) / soybean (Glycine max) yield and root development in Xinjiang, China" by Wenwen Wei, Tingting Liu, Lei Shen, Xiuyuan Wang , Shuai Zhang, Wei Zhang.

I was very interested in the research topic presented in this manuscript. The aim of the research conducted by the Authors of the manuscript was to study the effects of different planting patterns on the growth, yield, root morphological characteristics and interspecific competition of maize and soybean, and provide a reference for the development of intercropping patterns of maize and soybean in Northwest China. The researchers assessed the impact of such growing patterns as: monocropping maize, monocropping soybean and maize – soybean intercropping, on land equivalent ratio, aggressivity, competition ratio, actual yield loss, and root morphological features. Ultimately, on the basis of the research performed, the Authors concluded that maize and soybean intercropping can improve land use efficiency and crop yield.

Undoubtedly, intercropping is a cultivation system that limits the use of monocultures, and thus meets the contemporary trends in the development of sustainable agriculture. I believe that intercropping research should be developed and supported. Based on the few, so far, studies on intercropping, we know that this cultivation system can bring a number of benefits, not only in terms of yield and quality, but also, for example, in terms of plant health.

I believe that the research presented in this manuscript is well-done and innovative. I have only a few minor comments that the Authors should consider at a later stage in preparing the manuscript for printing:

1) Please consider changing the title of the manuscript to e.g. Effect of maize (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max) intercropping on yield and root development in Xinjiang, China.

2) Abstract - the hypothesis is very poorly outlined here, please elaborate on. L19-21 - please refer to the tested species.

3) Keywords - they should not repeat words appearing in the title of the manuscript, and moreover, they should be arranged in alphabetical order.

4) Introduction - L67-76 - the hypothesis is well presented here, but it is necessary to present the purpose of the research in detail here.

5) Table 1, Figures 3, 5 - explain what the letters A-F mean. Remember that the symbol "A" stands for aggressivity.

6) All Tables and Figures (with the possible exception of Figure 2) are technically very poorly prepared. The Figures should be consistent in size, font size and type etc.

7) Why is Table 5 right after Table 1 ???

8) Materials and Methods - L 88-89 - add the Latin name maize and soybean.

And first of all, please explain here how yield compositions (L281) was rated ??? Please pay special attention to the 1000-seed weight assessment!

9) The entire manuscript is very poorly adapted to the requirements of the current template in the journal Agriculture, please pay special attention to the References chapter and Tables.

 

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf