Mechanical Soil Resistance Influenced by Different Tillage Systems and Tractor Tire Pressures

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

General comments: This study investigated the influence of different tillage systems on soil compaction and the influence of tractor tire pressure on penetrometer resistance during sowing. The following comments and suggestions may be helpful to improve the manuscript.

Specific comments:

(1)  Lines 99-106: The original soil conditions and local climate parameters during the experiment (e.g. precipitation and temperatures) are necessary for this section, e.g., soil type, moisture content, bulk density. Please add them.

(2)  Lines 113-118: The shapes and main geometrical dimensions of the four different tools should be provided using pictures or 3D models, as they greatly affected the subsequent effects on soil conditions. Please add them. Additionally, more information about the tillage methods should be stated, e.g., tine spacing and distance between the tire path and tillage path.

(3)  Lines 142-147: Details of fertilization (e.g., the amount of N, P, and K) are necessary here, please provide them.

(4)  Lines 150-154, a figure showing the distribution of soil compaction measurement is very necessary to explain the distance between the positions of soil compaction measurement using a penetrometer and tire path or tillage path, as they are critical for the measurement results. Moreover, soil compaction is generally occurred in a larger area. Therefore, soil cone index from a single point cannot fully provide sufficient information of soil compaction (i.e., tables in the main text). A figure of the cross-sectional area of soil compaction for each treatment is very necessary to reflect the distribution and degree of soil compaction.

Some sentences are too wordy , please revise them.

Author Response

Dear,

Please see the attachment.

Best regards, Autors

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

The presented field research on the evaluation of the degree of soil compaction depending on the type of soil tillage, the crop grown and the pressure in the tractor wheel tires is interesting from the agrotechnical side.

The minuses of the conducted experiment are the poor range of evaluated parameters. There is a lack of information regarding the aggregate's operational and technical parameters (e.g., driving speed, fuel consumption, pulling force....), soil parameters (soil moisture) as well as crop yield.

The authors should complete the information on the operating speeds used and soil moisture.

What was the value of soil compaction before tillage treatments, before the first measurement.

Why, for wheat, the research was carried out only on two dates.

The authors should explain why the values of soil mechanical resistance in the second measurement period were higher than in the first and in the third for soybeans Table 1 and 2, and lower in the second measurement period for winter wheat (Table 7 and 8).

What to justify the increase in soil compaction values between the first year - Table 1 and the third year Table 7, e.g. for CT from about 2.01 MPa to 3.10 MPa.

Since the study was conducted for three years the authors should analyze the results obtained not only within a given year, but also between years.

Author Response

Dear,

Please see the attachment.

Best regards, Authors

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

In my opinion, the article is well written. Just the keywors were missed.

Good luck

Author Response

Dear,

Please see the attachment.

Best regards, Authors

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The manuscript has been improved after the revision and can be accepted.

The manuscript can be accepted after a moderate editing of English language.

Reviewer 2 Report

The manuscript has been
sufficiently improved to warrant publication in Sustainability