Efficiency of Using Superabsorbent Polymers in Reducing Mineral Fertilizer Rates Applied in Autumn Royal Vineyards

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Correct the following:

 

Line 74: Table 1: "Some of the..", correct this

Line 76: Explanation of O.M: - Organic Matter is not necessery, because You write the full "Organic matter" in the Table.Change this in the Table and write "O. M."

Line 78: Indicate what does "W.H.C" mean, "O.M." organic matter delete

Line 198: Rewrite "Table (4) data" with " The data in Table 4"

Line 199: Remove "Substantial" and write "significant"

Line 202: "heaviest" and Line 204: "the llightest". It seems that these thermins are not apprtopriate according to the results.

Line 239: "100 gm" - delete "m", write just "100 g"

Line 284: Delete "Chemical characteristics of leaves and shoots"

Line 290: "100 g polymer/vine""

Line 329: Rewrite: "The findings in this study are consistent with previous research, which found that SAPs play several important roles, including supplying the vines with the macronutrients they require...."

Line 394: Delet "kg" - 100 g

Author Response

With this cover letter, we will submit the revised manuscript (horticulturae-2259520) entitled, " Efficiency of using super absorbent polymer in reducing mineral fertilizer rates applied in Autumn Royal vineyards " for publication in Horticulturae. We would like to thank referees for the careful and constructive reviews. Based on the comments from the referees, we have made changes of the manuscript, which are detailed below.

Reply to the evaluation by first reviewer

• Line 74: Table 1: "Some of the..", correct this.

Response: changed page 3 line 103.

• Line 76: Explanation of O.M: - Organic Matter is not necessery, because You write the full "Organic matter" in the Table.Change this in the Table and write "O. M."

Response: change, see page 3 table 1

• Line 78: Indicate what does "W.H.C" mean, "O.M." organic matter delete

Response: W.H.C is water holding capacity and was added under the table 1

• Line 198: Rewrite "Table (4) data" with " The data in Table 4"

Response: changed page 8 line 261

• Line 202: "heaviest" and Line 204: "the llightest". It seems that these thermins are not apprtopriate according to the results

Response: changed see page 9 line 266 and 268.

• Line 239: "100 gm" - delete "m", write just "100 g"

Response: removed see page 10 line 303

• Line 284: Delete "Chemical characteristics of leaves and shoots".

Response: deleted

• Line 290: "100 g polymer/vine""

Response: done, see page 11 lines 353

• Line 329: Rewrite: "The findings in this study are consistent with previous research, which found that SAPs play several important roles, including supplying the vines with the macronutrients they require...."

Response: the sentence reformatted, see page 15 lines 402- 406

• Line 394: Delet "kg" - 100 g.

Response: done

 

Reviewer 2 Report

Interesting topic. Please see my suggestions:

Introduction

Must be improved, better developed, and referenced.

L30. It is not correct “can change”. Fertilizers does change the soil’s composition, enzymology, characteristics, etc. I suggest checking and referring to https://doi.org/10.37358/RC.19.10.7576  and  https://doi.org/10.37358/RC.18.10.6590

L32. “can”? All the inorganic/organic substances AFFECTS the soil. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14127-7   

L39-42. Nanofarming must be reminded as it is the newest direction in agriculture. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132533

Aim of the study, L58-62. In the last paragraph of Introduction, please highlight/detail the special aspects/novelty that your study brings to the field, and what differentiate this paper from other in the same topic.

 

 

Materials and Methods

L65. A satellite image of the location would be relevant.

Please set the Tables according to the Instructions for authors. No needed of underlining text in the tables.

Table 1. B.D. g.cm³ (3 must be as superscript), be consistent in denotation.

According to the Instructions for authors, In the entire manuscript please revise Abbreviations as Acronyms/Abbreviations/Initialisms should be defined the first time they appear in each of three sections: the Abstract; the Main text; under the first Figure or Table. When defined for the first time, the acronym/abbreviation/initialism should be added in parentheses after the written-out form.

L161-163. The computer programs used for statistics must be mentioned and referenced. Main statistic parameters must be also detailed.

On the figures, please write on black, not on grey, for a better visibility.

 

 

Results and Discussion

L362. Avoid adding subtitles without properly numbering them. Please see the Instructions for authors and revise the entire manuscript (including subsections of 2.2.).

How these fertilizers affect the grape’s composition? A paragraph must be added. I suggest checking and referring to Oprea, et al. Researches on the chemical composition and the rheological properties of wheat and grape epicarp flour mixes, Rev. Chim., 69(1), 2018, 70-75 and https://doi.org/10.3390/life13010178

As the last paragraph of the Discussion section, it is advisable to detail the strengths, but especially the limitations, of your study and to what extent they could be resolved in view of future research directions.

 

References should be in the MDPI style, at single line,, please check the Instructions for authors.

Author Response

With this cover letter, we will submit the revised manuscript (horticulturae-2259520) entitled, " Efficiency of using super absorbent polymer in reducing mineral fertilizer rates applied in Autumn Royal vineyards " for publication in Horticulturae. We would like to thank referees for the careful and constructive reviews. Based on the comments from the referees, we have made changes of the manuscript, which are detailed below.

Reply to the evaluation by Second reviewer

Introduction

• Must be improved, better developed, and referenced.

Response: Thank you for your comment, the introduction was improved, please check, some pragraphs were added.

• It is not correct “can change”. Fertilizers does change the soil’s composition, enzymology, characteristics, etc. I suggest checking and referring

Response: revised and the paragraph was rewrote, page 1 lines 29 - 34

• “can”? All the inorganic/organic substances AFFECTS the soil. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14127-7

Response: the paragraph was rewrote.

• Aim of the study, L58-62. In the last paragraph of Introduction, please highlight/detail the special aspects/novelty that your study brings to the field, and what differentiate this paper from other in the same topic.
• Response: the aim was enhanced, check page 2 lines 76 - 85.

Materials and Methods

• A satellite image of the location would be relevant.

Response: Thank you for your comments, we haven’t a good one and this idea will be consider in next research.

• Please set the Tables according to the Instructions for authors. No needed of underlining text in the tables.

Response: all tables were modified

• Table 1. B.D. g.cm3 (3 must be as superscript), be consistent in denotation.

Response: done, check table 1

• According to the Instructions for authors, In the entire manuscript please revise Abbreviations as Acronyms/Abbreviations/Initialisms should be defined the first time they appear in each of three sections: the Abstract; the Main text; under the first Figure or Table. When defined for the first time, the acronym/abbreviation/initialism should be added in parentheses after the written-out form.

Response: we followed your suggestion in the whole manuscript

• L161-163. The computer programs used for statistics must be mentioned and referenced. Main statistic parameters must be also detailed.

Response: Done, check page 6 lines 217 - 221

• On the figures, please write on black, not on grey, for a better visibility.

Response: changed in Figures 1 and 2

 

Results and Discussion

• Avoid adding subtitles without properly numbering them. Please see the Instructions for authors and revise the entire manuscript (including subsections of 2.2.).

Response: Done in the whole manuscript

• How these fertilizers affect the grape’s composition? A paragraph must be added. I suggest checking and referring to Oprea, et al. Researches on the chemical composition and the rheological properties of wheat and grape epicarp flour mixes, Rev. Chim., 69(1), 2018, 70-75 and https://doi.org/10.3390/life13010178

Response: revised, the same point was mentioned in page 14

• As the last paragraph of the Discussion section, it is advisable to detail the strengths, but especially the limitations, of your study and to what extent they could be resolved in view of future research directions.

Response: Done

• References should be in the MDPI style, at single line,, please check the Instructions for authors.

Response: Revised

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments to Author

 

This is a well written and time demanding manuscript. They tried to find out the suitable amount mineral fertilizer rates with SAPs for proper growth and development of vineyards. I appreciate to publish this kind of manuscript.

 

However, I have some observation to publish this manuscript.

 

Ø  In Introduction, section author should clearly mention about the importance of this work.

Ø  Organic matter of the experiment soil is very low (0.06%). This is not standard. You have to maintain standard amount of OM.

Ø  In methodology section, Line 131 Leaves and shoots properties: You have to show the details working procedure.

Ø  Line 140 Soil analysis:  You have to show the details working procedure.

Ø  In all table and figure you used 60 unit N+100 unit K/ polymer/fed……………….. These explanations of treatments in table and figures make them difficult to read and understand. My suggestion is use T1, T2 ………T9 and explain them as a short note below the fig and table.

Ø  Table 5 present in two pages. Present table 5 in one page.

Ø  If possible show SPAD value in figure

Ø  Present table 11 in one single page.

Ø  Authors should read the authors guideline carefully. They make some minor mistake due overlook the author guideline.

Ø  Author should avoid the long sentences. Make the long sentences to simple sentences.

Ø  Follow the Author guidelines for ‘References’.

Ø  Also see the attached manuscript for minor corrections.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

With this cover letter, we will submit the revised manuscript (horticulturae-2259520) entitled, " Efficiency of using super absorbent polymer in reducing mineral fertilizer rates applied in Autumn Royal vineyards " for publication in Horticulturae. We would like to thank referees for the careful and constructive reviews. Based on the comments from the referees, we have made changes of the manuscript, which are detailed below.

Reply to the evaluation by Third reviewer

This is a well written and time demanding manuscript. They tried to find out the suitable amount mineral fertilizer rates with SAPs for proper growth and development of vineyards. I appreciate to publish this kind of manuscript.

 

However, I have some observation to publish this manuscript.

 

• In Introduction, section author should clearly mention about the importance of this work.

Response: thank you for your comments, some paragraphs and the aim of the manuscript were modified

• Organic matter of the experiment soil is very low (0.06%). This is not standard. You have to maintain standard amount of OM.

Response: Thank you for your notification, it was 0.66%, see table 1

• In methodology section, Line 131 Leaves and shoots properties: You have to show the details working procedure.

Response: Done, check page 5 lines 175 - 192

• Line 140 Soil analysis:  You have to show the details working procedure.

Response: Done, check page 5 lines 194 - 208

• In all table and figure you used 60 unit N+100 unit K/ polymer/fed……………….. These explanations of treatments in table and figures make them difficult to read and understand. My suggestion is use T1, T2 ………T9 and explain them as a short note below the fig and table.

Response: changed in all tables

• Table 5 present in two pages. Present table 5 in one page.

Response: will be in one page

• If possible show SPAD value in figure

Response: Done, 2 figures (3 and 4) were added

• Present table 11 in one single page.

Response: will be in one page

• Authors should read the authors guideline carefully. They make some minor mistake due overlook the author guideline.

Response: Done

• Author should avoid the long sentences. Make the long sentences to simple sentences.

Response: Done

• Follow the Author guidelines for ‘References’.

Response: Done

• Also see the attached manuscript for minor corrections.

Response: all comments were done

Sincerely yours,

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

The authors partially responded to my requests. Please see my previous report and improve your revision accordingly.

Author Response

With this cover letter, we will submit the revised manuscript (horticulturae-2259520) entitled, " Efficiency of using super absorbent polymer in reducing mineral fertilizer rates applied in Autumn Royal vineyards " for publication in Horticulturae. We would like to thank referees for the careful and constructive reviews. Based on the comments from the referees, we have made changes of the manuscript, which are detailed below.

Reply to the evaluation by Second reviewer

Introduction

• Must be improved, better developed, and referenced.

Response: Thank you for your comment, the introduction was improved, please check, some pragraphs were added (page 1 and 2)

• It is not correct “can change”. Fertilizers does change the soil’s composition, enzymology, characteristics, etc. I suggest checking and referring

Response: revised and the reference was added

• “can”? All the inorganic/organic substances AFFECTS the soil. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14127-7

Response: Done and the reference was added.

• Aim of the study, L58-62. In the last paragraph of Introduction, please highlight/detail the special aspects/novelty that your study brings to the field, and what differentiate this paper from other in the same topic.

Response: the aim was enhanced, check page 2 lines 76 - 85

 

Materials and Methods

• A satellite image of the location would be relevant.

Response: Thank you for your comments, We added satellite image.

• Please set the Tables according to the Instructions for authors. No needed of underlining text in the tables.

Response: Done, please see table 1

• Table 1. B.D. g.cm3 (3 must be as superscript), be consistent in denotation.

Response: done, see table 1

• According to the Instructions for authors, In the entire manuscript please revise Abbreviations as Acronyms/Abbreviations/Initialisms should be defined the first time they appear in each of three sections: the Abstract; the Main text; under the first Figure or Table. When defined for the first time, the acronym/abbreviation/initialism should be added in parentheses after the written-out form.

Response: Done, all insructions were applied

• L161-163. The computer programs used for statistics must be mentioned and referenced. Main statistic parameters must be also detailed.

Response: Done, statistical section was modified

• On the figures, please write on black, not on grey, for a better visibility.

Response: done, please see figure 1 and 2

 

Results and Discussion

• Avoid adding subtitles without properly numbering them. Please see the Instructions for authors and revise the entire manuscript (including subsections of 2.2.).

Response: Done and some subsections were added

• How these fertilizers affect the grape’s composition? A paragraph must be added. I suggest checking and referring to Oprea, et al. Researches on the chemical composition and the rheological properties of wheat and grape epicarp flour mixes, Rev. Chim., 69(1), 2018, 70-75 and https://doi.org/10.3390/life13010178

Response: revised, the sentence was modified according to our results.

• As the last paragraph of the Discussion section, it is advisable to detail the strengths, but especially the limitations, of your study and to what extent they could be resolved in view of future research directions.

Response: Done,

• References should be in the MDPI style, at single line,, please check the Instructions for authors.

Response: Revised and MDPI style was applied

Round 3

Reviewer 2 Report

The authors have improved their paper.