Biochar Improves Soil Fertility and Crop Performance: A Case Study of Nigeria

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This article describes the research status of biochar in Afrifa,and provides resaerch directions and suggestions based on the actual situation and research status of Nigeria‘s self growth.However,there are still the following problems:

1.The artcle has too much space for the method of converting raw materials into biochar,resulting in an imbalance in the structure of the article.

2.There are issues with keywords selection. It is recommended to consider carefully,especially replacing Black cabon with Biochar in the keywords.

3.The entire text needs to be carefully checked for punctuation issues,especially the symbol errors on line 901.

4.In the summary and conclusion of the fifth part of the article,the conclusion is too lengthy,and many conclusions are similar to previous research results,whithout highlighting the innovation of this article.

5.What does the 912nd line of the text specifically refer to as modified biochar?

6. The biochar produced from different raw materials has certain differences.What are thesources of biochar suggested by the author for Nigeria in the future?Stratw or wood?

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The language quality of the article is good and there are no problems

Author Response

1. The article has too much space for the method of converting raw materials into biochar, resulting in an imbalance in the structure of the article.

Response: revised

 

2. There are issues with keywords selection. It is recommended to consider carefully, especially replacing Black carbon with Biochar in the keywords.

Response: corrected

 

3. The entire text needs to be carefully checked for punctuation issues, especially the symbol errors on line 901.

Response: Punctuations were checked and corrected

 

4. In the summary and conclusion of the fifth part of the article, the conclusion is too lengthy, and many conclusions are similar to previous research results, without highlighting the innovation of this

Response: corrected and recommendation/conclusion drawn based on pointing out research gap in Nigeria.

 

5. What does the 912nd line of the text specifically refer to as modified biochar?

Response: It refers to biochars whose inherent characteristics like surface area are subjected to some changes through physical, chemical or other means to reflect its use for a designed purpose.

 

6. The biochar produced from different raw materials has certain differences. What are the sources of biochar suggested by the author for Nigeria in the future? Straw or wood?

Response: Inserted as recommended

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Biochar is a soil amendment with great carbon sequestration potential. The effects of biochar on soil quality and crop growth were reviewed to provide some guidance for the related research and application of biochar.

 

Unfortunately, in my opinion, the review in this paper is not in-depth and there are no innovative results,

 

Since the paper focuses on the African region, what are the differences between the preparation and application of biochar in this region and other regions? From the content of the present paper, it seems that the relevant evidence cannot be clearly found.

 

A quantitative summary is recommended, rather than a simple tabular list of data, In particular, a comprehensive introduction to biochar production and performance.

 

Abstract does not reflect the important contribution of the paper, and the conclusion is too long.

 

As for the description of the relevant literature, it is not obvious to find the author's comments.

Author Response

1. Since the paper focuses on the African region, what are the differences between the preparation and application of biochar in this region and other regions? From the content of the present paper, it seems that the relevant evidence cannot be clearly found.

Response: The paper tried to point out what is yet to be done regards biochar-soil fertility-crop performance studies in Nigeria

 

2. A quantitative summary is recommended, rather than a simple tabular list of data, In particular, a comprehensive introduction to biochar production and performance.

Response: Introduction to biochar production and performance was revised

 

3. Abstract does not reflect the important contribution of the paper, and the conclusion is too long.

Response: Abstract revised

 

4. As for the description of the relevant literature, it is not obvious to find the author's comments.

Response: the author tried to present clearly about the subject from published works.

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This paper aims to review recent biochar research priorities on soil fertility and crop performance with emphasis on various sole biochar and combinations with fertilizers to come up with research gaps that need to be developed more in biochar research in Nigeria. From the papers reviewed, sole biochar application, biochar + macronutrients, biochar + manure combinations were studied more dominantly while biochar + micronutrients research was scanty despite their low 21 content in Semi-arid soils of Nigeria. The studies were spread across the country with a majority of the studies taking place in Derived Savannah and Humid Forest while Sudan Savanna and Sahel Savanna received less research attention despite being characterized by low fertile soil and vast area of land. We found that biochar enhances soil properties, including pH, water-holding capacity, and nutrient availability leading to increased crop yields. The pH, surface area, and elemental composition of biochar were determined by the type of feedstock, temperature, and conditions during pyrolysis. Challenges are faced due to less commercial production as a result of inadequate power and structural facilities. Exploring the modification of local biochar for slow-release fertilizers through future research offers potential profitability. 

No Doubt, the work is reviewing an important aspect of the agricultural activities in Nigeria. I would recommend it after some major changes.

1. Pay attention to language, there are many grammatical errors.

2.  Introduction and review part doesn't contain very recent citations, please add and strengthen your review, no matter from other countries, and provide a reference to be followed in Nigeria and other similar regions.

3. Please take care of subscripts and superscripts.

4.  Because it is a review so "2. Methodology" doesn't make any sense, please remove this heading.

5. Fig. 1 is too simple, add more details in it.

6. Please discuss biochar as a source of micronutrients.

7.  Please cross match references in text and at the end.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Moderate English revision needed.

Author Response

1. Pay attention to language, there are many grammatical errors.

Response: corrected

 

2. Introduction and review part doesn't contain very recent citations, please add and strengthen your review, no matter from other countries, and provide a reference to be followed in Nigeria and other similar regions.

Response: recent citations added

 

3. Please take care of subscripts and superscripts.

Response: corrected

 

4. Because it is a review so "2. Methodology" doesn't make any sense, please remove this heading.

Response: corrected/removed

 

5. 1 is too simple, add more details in it.

Response: Re-edited

 

6. Please discuss biochar as a source of micronutrients.

Response: Done

 

7. Please cross match references in text and at the end.

Response: citation and references numerically arranged

 

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

1-      Most of the information provided on biochar in this review paper is well-known. Three is nothing new. However, it can be considered a summary of what is going on in Africa about the use of biochar in agriculture.

2-      On page 3, lines 114-115, I would delete “with the focus on thermal methods” since biochar is mainly produced by thermal methods.

3-      The section on biochar and soil microorganisms on page 11, is a well-written part of the article.

 

Author Response

1. Most of the information provided on biochar in this review paper is well-known. Three is nothing new. However, it can be considered a summary of what is going on in Africa about the use of biochar in agriculture.

Response: Yes, the paper presented summary of biochar use in Nigeria in relation tp soil fertility and crop performance for researchers to find out what need to be done.

 

2. On page 3, lines 114-115, I would delete “with the focus on thermal methods” since biochar is mainly produced by thermal methods.

Response: corrected

 

3. The section on biochar and soil microorganisms on page 11, is a well-written part of the article.

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The paper has been revised and improved according to the suggestions, and has achieved good quality.

1.The reference format needs to be modified.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The English quality of the paper is good.

Author Response

Reviewer 1 Comments:

1. The reference format needs to be modified.

Answer: We had checked over the references and ensured that the journal format was adhered to.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

In the opinion of the reviewers, the authors did not make fundamental changes and the review failed to draw features that distinguished it from other biochar reviews. At the same time, a lot of progress is only a list of results, without quantitative literature analysis.

Author Response

Reviewer 2 Comments:

In the opinion of the reviewers, the authors did not make fundamental changes and the review failed to draw features that distinguished it from other biochar reviews. At the same time, a lot of progress is only a list of results, without quantitative literature analysis.

 

Answer: We presented current state of biochar research and studies in Nigeria to find out the research gap and make suggestions on future research pertaining biochar use in Nigeria.

We also presented the result in a quantitative manner as in Figures 6 and 7.

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

No comments

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Satisfactory

Author Response

Thanks