Influence of Eucalyptus Agroforestry on Crop Yields, Soil Properties, and System Economics in Southern Regions of India

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

 

The authors examine an interesting topic (INFLUENCE OF Eucalyptus AGROFORESTRY ON CROP 1 YIELD, SOIL PROPERTIES, AND SYSTEM ECONOMICS IN 2 SOUTHERN REGIONS OF INDIA). The authors made appropriate amount of experimental work. 

however, I would like to suggest some point

·         Make Abstract more accurate and precise.

·         Provide the possible limitations of the study.

·         Elaborate the environmental factors like, climate, vegetation, fluctuation in temperate, humidity, in section 2.1

·         Check whole MS for language, overlapping of words, spelling mistake.

 

 

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

This manuscript investigates the effects of trees and intercrops on growth and production, changes in soil fertility, and economics of Eucalyptus-based agroforestry systems. The authors showed that intercrops made a difference in the trees' height increment, yield, and other variables. The intercrops had effects on the nutrients in the soil, but it is not clearly concluded to how much extent. There are no robust hypotheses in the beginning that may be confirmed or rejected in the results and discussion. In addition, the statistical analysis is not discussed clearly. Overall, the manuscript needs moderate/major revision. In my opinion, the scope is not appropriate for Sustainability in its current format.

 

General comment:

In my view, there should be clear hypotheses development and statement that are being tested in the results and discussion. The statistical analysis is not clearly discussed. The conclusion is vague. For example using sentences like “had some effects on…” do not sound scientific.

Detailed comments:

Abstract: Page1, lines 40-58: the abstract is very long and reports a lot of information about plant height, yield, soil nutrients, and gross income. I suggest either remove or revise and make it shorter and to the point to prevent the readers getting lost without any specific take home message in the end.

 

Introduction: Page 2, lines 68-69: global demand?

 

Introduction: Page 2, line 87: It permits in increasing? You meant: It increases the total production/it results in increasing the total production?

 

Introduction: Page 3, lines 105-108: It would be good to mention your hypotheses here.

 

Page 5, line 156: …which has been proved to “be”…

 

Economic analysis: Page 6, line 182: this section needs improvement. Please start with more description/information/explanation on the economic factors such as Gross and Net return. In line 184, delete “using the formula”, you may say: “is given by” or “is calculated as” or “is defined by”.

 

Line 186: Please be consistent with the headers or titles.

 

Line 192: “where” instead of “when”

 

Lines 210-211: what do you mean by differed noticeably? the difference was significant? did you use ANOVA test? For all the values in the text, whenever you mention: highest/lowest/largest/… please mention that statistically different or just the magnitude.

 

Line 239: did you define “dbh” earlier?

 

Line 297: please remove the full stop (.) in “while maize (Rs (Rs 8,050 296 ha-1 ).Tree + red gram”

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

General Comments

Agriculture sustainability is very important for food security. Soil conservation and improving soil fertility is one of the major elements crop and forage production. In the current manuscript, the authors investigated the use of intercropping system with Eucalyptus plant to improve sustainable agriculture production in India. The major objective of the article was to investigate successful growing of intercrops with Eucalyptus clone to boost the income of farmers and improve the long-term productivity, sustainability and profitability of the system in Southern Regions of India.

 

The topic is relevant to the field in the way that it identified major crops and management systems for intercropping with Eucalyptus clone. The manuscript provide good scientific data related to Eucalyptus and intercropping system. In the study, the authors investigated the use of Eucalyptus-based agroforestry systems to simulate the impacts of trees and intercrops on growth and production, changes in soil fertility, and economics. This kind of work is important, and provide good technical background related to management of trees and crops in the intercropping system and its effect on sustainability and food security.

 

It added information on intercropping and benefit of using sustainable and integrated system of different types of plants/crops that would have economic value to farmers and could improve food security. In addition, results of the study adds information related to type of crops to be used with Eucalyptus clone that could be used in intercropping system with economic benefit for farmers

 

However, the authors need to include the following information:

 

Introduction

The authors need to add information related to soil properties and effect of intercropping on soil properties. In addition, must include information related to the effect of intercropping system on sustainability of production. The authors need to add information related to integration of different plants/crops and effect of intercropping on production sustainability and food security.

 

Methodology

Experimental design is clear, but need to include reasons of selecting the seven crops in the study (pearl millet, sorghum, maize, green gram, red gram, sesame, and small onion) as intercrops with Eucalyptus clone in the intercropping system in the study.

 

Discussion

In the discussion section, the authors need to discuss the management of intercropping system and focus on intercrops management with the Eucalyptus and its effect on soil properties economics and sustainable production of food and other products that would benefit the farmer economy.

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

The manuscript has improved substantially and is ready for publication. 

Author Response

Respected Sir

Minor spell checks have been carried out and finalized.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf