Changes in Growth Parameters, C:N:P Stoichiometry and Non-Structural Carbohydrate Contents of Zanthoxylum armatum Seedling in Response to Five Soil Types

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Review

Changes of Growth Parameters, C:N:P Stoichiometry and  Non-Structural Carbohydrate contents of Zanthoxylum armatum seedling in response to five soil types

The manuscript was focused on analyzes of growth factors of Zanthoxylum armatum in five different soil substrates. Some morphometric characteristics of the plant were measured, as well as the content of nutrients (C, N, P) and the content of non-structural carbohydrates in different parts of the plant. Z. armatum seedlings can grow well in all five soil types, alluvial soil and red soil were beneficial for the cultivation of Z. armatum seedlings with higher nutrient levels. The tested characteristics were related to soil types with different physical and chemical properties, indicating that the optimal growth conditions for Z. armatum seedlings differ in different regions. The work brings new knowledge and the methodology, including the results, are applicable in the future.

The manuscript is well composed, easy to read and contains all the necessary details. I have only a few recommendations to improve the content of this article.

My recommendation:

1. In chapters 2.3. Seedling culture and growth parameters measurement and 2.4. Sample collect and growth parameter measuremen I miss how the seeds were collected, how many seeds were used for each individual soil, how many seedlings were analyzed for each soil (number of repetitions), how the leaves were collected..., what all the characteristics were measured and subsequently counted. Please be inspired by the work: Sera, 2023, Methodological contribution on seed germination and seedling initial growth tests in wild plants.

2. The methodology does not mention the correlations that are presented in the results

3. In Table 3 you have to describe what and how was analyzed. According to the current description, this is not unequivocally clear. The results of two-factor ANOVA are usually shown in a different way.

Author Response

Comment 1. In chapters 2.3. Seedling culture and growth parameters measurement and 2.4. Sample collect and growth parameter measuremen I miss how the seeds were collected, how many seeds were used for each individual soil, how many seedlings were analyzed for each soil (number of repetitions), how the leaves were collected..., what all the characteristics were measured and subsequently counted. Please be inspired by the work: Sera, 2023, Methodological contribution on seed germination and seedling initial growth tests in wild plants.

Reply 1: Ok. Thanks for these comments, these questions in the Chapters 2.3. and 2.4. have been added and revised as suggested. We have tried to highlight our corrections in red in the revised manuscript.

Comment 2. The methodology does not mention the correlations that are presented in the results

Reply 2: OK. We agree. We have added some descriptions in the revised manuscript as suggested.

Comment 3. In Table 3 you have to describe what and how was analyzed. According to the current description, this is not unequivocally clear. The results of two-factor ANOVA are usually shown in a different way.

Reply 3: Ok. We agree. Thank you very much for pointing out this question. In Table 3, the present study mainly showed a statistical significance for tested parameters in response to organ, soil type and their interactions.

Reviewer 2 Report

I have reviewed the article “Changes of Growth Parameters, C:N:P Stoichiometry and 2 Non-Structural Carbohydrate contents of Zanthoxylum arma- 3 tum seedling in response to five soil types” and I understand it is valuable work in terms of the approach used and scientific contribution. I recommend it for publication but, some aspects should be improved before the acceptance.

Abstract

Line 13-16: Improve the writing, as a suggestion try to combine the information;

Abstract:

Line 14-17 Do not include the names of soil types in the objective. These must be included in the methodology

Introduction:

The introduction is extensive, requiring greater objectivity to characterize the problem. We suggest starting with the choice of species and the importance of this type of study.

Line 108-111: Do not include the names of soil types in the objective. These must be included in the methodology

Material and Methods

Was a complete analysis of the soils used performed? Macro and micronutrient?

141: One plant per pot?

Line145-146: How was it done?

Discussion

Line 377-385: The discussion will need to go beyond comparison. Explain why

Conclusion

We suggest improving the writing of conclusions, focusing on responding to the objective of the work

Line 505-508: This should be part of the discussion

Author Response

Comment 1: Line 13-16: Improve the writing, as a suggestion try to combine the information;

Reply  1: Ok. Thanks. We have corrected some descriptions in the Line 13-16 as suggested. We have tried to highlight our corrections in red in the revised manuscript.

Comment 2: Abstract: Line 14-17 Do not include the names of soil types in the objective. These must be included in the methodology

Reply 2: Ok. Thanks. We have corrected this descriptions as suggested. We have tried to highlight our corrections in red in the revised manuscript.

Introduction:

Comment 3: The introduction is extensive, requiring greater objectivity to characterize the problem. We suggest starting with the choice of species and the importance of this type of study.

Reply 3: Ok. Thanks. We have corrected the introduction as suggested. We have tried to highlight our corrections in red in the revised manuscript.

Comment 4: Line 108-111: Do not include the names of soil types in the objective. These must be included in the methodology

Reply 4: Ok. Thanks. These question has been revised as suggested.

Material and Methods

Comment 5: Was a complete analysis of the soils used performed? Macro and micronutrient?

Reply 5: Ok. Thanks. The present study mainly analyzed the pH, and contents of organic matter, Total nitrogen, and Total phosphorus. Future studies will focus on the contents of macro and micronutrient in the five soil types, and analyze the relationship between these elements content of five soil types and uptake in the different parts of seedlings.

Comment 6: 141: One plant per pot?

Reply 6: Ok. Thanks. One seedlings were planted in each pot.

Comment 7: Line145-146: How was it done?

Reply 7: Ok. Thanks. The question has been added in the revised manuscript as suggested.

Discussion

Comment 8: Line 377-385: The discussion will need to go beyond comparison. Explain why

Reply 8: Ok. Thanks. Some explanations have been added in the in the revised manuscript as suggested.

Conclusion

Comment 9: We suggest improving the writing of conclusions, focusing on responding to the objective of the work

Reply 9: Ok. Thanks. The chapter of conclusion has been rewrite in the revised manuscript as suggested.

Comment 10: Line 505-508: This should be part of the discussion

Reply 10: Ok. Thanks. These question has been revised as suggested.