The Effect of Covering Corn Silage with Tomato or Apple Pomace on Fermentation Parameters and Feed Quality
, Oktay Yerlikaya 3, Selim Esen 4, Valiollah Palangi 1 and Maximilian Lackner 5,*Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
This manuscript investigated the effects of applying apple pomace or tomato pomace as covering materials on the quality of corn silage. This research is interesting and provides an inexpensive alternative to plastic film methods for silage. However, the description and organization should be improved before considering publication.
Major comments:
1. In the Introduction section, delete the description of nutritional value of tomato pulp and pulp in animal feed. Please add the literature about the application of pomace used in silage or feed.
2. It is difficult to follow the writing in the result and discussion. Please re-organize and add sub-title for the Result and Discussion sections.
3. The resolution of most of the figs are too low. It is necessary to describe the sub-figure in the figure caption.
4. Please rephrase the abstract and conclusion. Add the summary of fermentation result and key data in the abstract. There is only description of “has significant impacts, significantly alter”, which is difficult to see the advantage of AP or TP. It is better to conclude the best coverage type in this study.
5. Please polish the language.
Minor comments:
1. There are data for NH3-N, lactic acid, acetic acid, and butyric acid in Figure 2, but the methods for measuring them are not introduced in the materials and methods section.
2. On line 158-159, correct “4 mL 1 N-NaOH, 625 mg Na2S*9H2O”
3. Numbered the equations.
Comments on the Quality of English Language
no
Author Response
Dear reviewer,
See the attached file for our replies.
Best regards,
Maximilian Lackner
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
Good day,
An interesting study with a well-presented manuscript. Check references for doubles as well as missing references in text / list.
Notes added in included file included.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Dear reviewer,
See the attached file for our replies.
Best regards,
Maximilian Lackner
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
I found the manuscript interesting and well writing. But, like always in text longer than 5 sentences, some comments appear.
Line 61-62 “tomato pulp contains cellulose, protein, fat, minerals, phenolic compounds, and carotenoids, some of which are compounds with biological activity, making it a promising alternative feed source.” What the mean biological activity mean, why only some compounds between them have these properties?
Line 66 “NRC (2001)” what NRC mean? Why it is only one not explain abbreviation?
Figure 2. The numbers in the diagram are hard to see. Also in the figure 3 and 4.
Author Response
Dear reviewer,
See the attached file for our replies.
Best regards,
Maximilian Lackner
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
