Growth and Distribution of Maize Roots in Response to Nitrogen Accumulation in Soil Profiles after Long-Term Fertilization Management on a Calcareous Soil
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The paper aimed to assess the Growth and Distribution of Maize Roots in Response to Nitrogen Accumulation in Soil Profiles after Long-term Fertilization Management on a Calcareous Soil. The topic is of interest and the findings are useful. The experiment has been properly describred. The results have been well reported as well discussed in a good way. I suggest the paper acceptance after an overall revision of English in order to further improve the paper's quality.
Author Response
Thank you for your nice comments. We have thoroughly completed the revision of English in our manuscript.
Reviewer 2 Report
Line 23 correct 20-60 cm
Line 59 correct provision，
Line 67 correct [19-20]
Line 93 correct P2O5
Line 94 correct K2O
Line 111 correct 60 °C
Line 122 correct 4-5 mm
Line 128, 130, 133 correct dm-3
Line 136 correct 12 h.
Line 153 correct shoot biomass,
Line 158 correct P < 0.05.
Line 172 correct (Table 1).
Line 204 correct 50-60 cm.
Line 259 correct (0-20 cm)
Line 265 correct (P < 0.05).
Line 268 correct 78%
Line 277 correct (20-40 and 40-60 cm),
Line 281 correct 0-20 cm
Line 284 correct 20-40 cm (a) and 40-60 cm
Line 293 correct 0-20 cm
Line 296 correct 0-60 cm
Line 313 correct NO3—
Line 335 correct 1 m,
Line 338 correct 2-4 times
Line 349 correct crop-1
Line 353 correct (0-20 cm)
Author Response
All the text was revised according to your suggestions.
Reviewer 3 Report
Great job. Please find my comments throughout the manuscript.
Line 62:
What does SOC stand for? Soil Organic Compound or Soil organic Carbon? Please add the description.
Line 123:
Which root morphology characteristics were
recorded? for example: RLD (Root length density) total root length, mean root diameter, and total root surface area
Line 158:
significant differences, and all the means were compared at the 0.05 probability level.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Point 1:
Line 57: What does FYM stand for here? Maybe some readers are not familiar with that so please add the following: FYM (Farm yard manure).
Response: FYM stands for farm yard manure, and it was added into the text.
Point 2:
Line 62: What does SOC stand for? Soil Organic Compound or Soil organic Carbon? Please add the description.
Response: SOC stands for soil organic carbon, and it was added into the text.
Point 3:
Line 123: Which root morphology characteristics were recorded? for example: RLD (Root length density) total root length, mean root diameter, and total root surface area
Response: Here the root morphology characteristics refer to root length and root diameter, and the text was modified.
Point 4:
Line 158: significant differences, and all the means were compared at the 0.05 probability level.
Response: the text was modified according to your suggestions.
Point 5:
Line 30 correct root, fertilization
Line 78 correct Study
Line 88 correct Treatments, Field
Line 107 correct Measurement
Line 152 correct Analysis
Line 153 delete the space
Line 163 correct Yield, Dry, Matter, Accumulation, Uptake, Maize and Shoots
Line 192,193 REN should be consistence using the abbreviation for the same value
Line 195 correct Total, Root
Line 216 correct Diameter
Line 250 correct Water
Line 273 correct Between, Soil, Water, Content, Soil, Shoot, Uptake
Line 285 correct Chemical
Response: the text was modified according to your suggestions.
