Efficiency of Nitrogen Fertilization of Winter Wheat Depending on Sulfur Fertilization

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear Authors,

The subject of the study is interesting and topical, with high scientific and practical importance.

The introduction is presented correctly, in accordance with the subject. Numerous scientific articles, in concordance to the topic of the study, were consulted.

Methodology of the study was clearly presented, and appropriate to the proposed objectives.

The obtained results are important and have been analyzed and interpreted correctly, in accordance with the current methodology. Some checks and revisions are required.

The discussions are appropriate, in the context of the results, and was conducted compared to other studies in the field.

The scientific literature, to which the reporting was made, is recent and representative in the field. Some checks and revisions are required in the References chapter.

Some corrections have been suggested in the article.

1.

"the x-axis show N doses" and "the y-axes shows the yield of winter wheat grain"

instead of current form in the article (Page 4, Row 139)

It is recommended to check

2.

Page 7, Table 1

How to explain that with the optimal dose N 166 kg N ha^-1 a maximum yield of 8503 kg ha^-1 was obtained (2015)

and

with the optimal dose N 235 kg N ha^-1 a maximum yield of 6553 kg ha^-1 was obtained (2016)

It is recommended to check

3.

Some suggestions and corrections were made in the References chapter

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 1 Comments

General comment: Dear Authors, the subject of the study is interesting and topical, with high scientific and practical importance. The introduction is presented correctly, in accordance with the subject. Numerous scientific articles, in concordance to the topic of the study, were consulted. Methodology of the study was clearly presented, and appropriate to the proposed objectives. The obtained results are important and have been analyzed and interpreted correctly, in accordance with the current methodology. Some checks and revisions are required. The discussions are appropriate, in the context of the results, and was conducted compared to other studies in the field. The scientific literature, to which the reporting was made, is recent and representative in the field. Some checks and revisions are required in the References chapter. Some corrections have been suggested in the article.

Response: Thank you very much for appreciating our work. We are pleased and honored that you found our research interesting and well presented. The manuscript has been corrected according to the suggestions, a detailed description of the changes is given below.

Point 1: "the x-axis show N doses" and "the y-axes shows the yield of winter wheat grain" instead of current form in the article (Page 4, Row 139). It is recommended to check.

Response: Descriptions of the axes has been corrected (lines 142-143).

The text after changes: The x-axis shows N doses, and the y-axis shows the yield of winter wheat grain.

Point 2: Page 7, Table 1. How to explain that with the optimal dose N 166 kg N ha^-1 a maximum yield of 8503 kg ha^-1 was obtained (2015) and with the optimal dose N 235 kg N ha^-1 a maximum yield of 6553 kg ha^-1 was obtained (2016). It is recommended to check.

Response: The error in Table 1 has been corrected (8053 kg instead of 8503 kg) (line 197).

Data for the year 2016 are correct. That year was characterized with unfavorable weather conditions, that is why the extremely high nitrogen dose (235 kg) was calculated as needed for a relatively low wheat yield (6553 kg ha^-1).

The table after changes:

Point 3: Some suggestions and corrections were made in the References chapter.

Response: Suggested corrections have been made in the References chapter. Furthermore, the entire chapter has been checked (lines 380-622) and minor inaccuracies have been noted and also corrected.

The text after changes: Biotechnol. 2015, 14, 445–454 (line 387); Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 2014, 1312, 105–12; DOI: 10.1111/nyas.12396 (line 391); USDA. Grain: World Markets and Trade, 2019. Available online: https://apps.fas.usda.gov/psdonline/circulars/grain.pdf (accessed on 17 July 2020) (lines 405-406); FAO. Cereal Supply and Demand Brief, 2019. Available online: (line 409); Yadav, R.; Singh, S.S.; Neelu, J.; Singh, G.P.; Prabhu, K.V. Wheat production in India: technologies to (line 414); Mueller, B.; Hauser, M.; Iles, C.; Rimi, R.H.; Zwiers, F.W., Wan, H. Lengthening of the growing season in (line 422); FAO. World fertilizer trends and outlook to 2022. Rome, 2019. Available online: (line 440); European Commission. From Farm to Fork. Available online: (line 442); 2016, 43, 442–451; DOI: 10.4067/S0718-16202016000300010. (line 449); protein and nitrogen use component responses to varying N supply and genotype. Front. Plant Sci. 2020, 10, 1790; DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01790. (lines 464, 465); protection. Science 2017, 356, 260–264; DOI: 10.1126/science.aal2011 (line 494); Fixen, P.; Brentrup, F.; Bruulsema, T.; Garcia, F.; Norton, R.; Zingore, S. Nutrient/fertilizer use efficiency: measurement, current situation and trends. In Managing Water and Fertilizer for Sustainable Agricultural Intensification, 1st ed.; Drechsel, P., Heffer, P., Magen, H., Mikkelsen, R., Wichelns, D., Eds.; International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA), International Water Management Institute (IWMI), International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI), International Potash Institute (IPI.), Paris, France, 2015; pp. 8-38, ISBN 979-10-92366-02-0 (lines 500-505); wheat-maize cropping systems in China. Agronomy 2018, 8, 293; DOI: 10.3390/agronomy8120293 (line 539); uptake and use efficiency of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties on the Vertisols of central (line 548); increases nitrogen loss in a wheat–soil system. Acta. Agr. Scand. B-S P. 2011, 61, 681–692; DOI: (line 558); intensively managed spring wheat in humid regions: effect of split application. Can. J. Plant Sci. 2012, 92, (line 561); Ravishankara, A.R.; Daniel, J.S.; Portmann, R.W. Nitrous oxide (N₂O): The dominant ozone-depleting (line 571); Grzebisz, W. Technologies of fertilization of arable crops - yielding physiology. Vol. 2. Cereals and maize; Powszechne Wydawnictwo Rolnicze i Leśne Sp. z o.o.: Poznań, Poland, 2012, p. 108, ISBN 978-83-09-01079-1. (in Polish) (lines 588-590); Porter, J.R.; Gawith, M. Temperatures and the growth and development of wheat: a review. Eur. J. Agron. 1999, 10(1), 23–36; DOI: 10.1016/s1161-0301(98)00047-1 (lines 598-601); Kahlown, M.A.; Asraf, M.; Roof, A.; Haq, Z.U. Determination of crop water requirement of major crops under shallow water-table conditions. Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources, Islamabad, Pakistan, 2003, ISBN 969-8469-11-7 (lines 602-606); Tripathi, R.P.; Mishra, R.K. Wheat root growth and seasonal water use as affected by irrigation under shallow water table conditions. Plant Soil 1986, 92(2), 181–188; DOI: 10.1007/BF02372632 (lines 614-617); Doorenbos, J.; Kassam, A.H.; Bentvelsen, C.L.M.; Branscheid, V., Plusje, J.M.G.A.; Smiyh, M.; Uittenbogaard, G.O.; Van Der Wal, H.K. Yield response to water. In FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 33, FAO, Rome, Italy, 1979, ISBN 9251007446 (lines 618-620)

Point 4: "40.6%" instead of "40.6". It is recommended to check (line 24 in the pdf file).

Response: The text has been corrected according to the suggestion (line 24).

The text after changes: mean values 48.9%, 44.6% and 40.6% for doses 150 kg N ha^-1, 200 kg N ha^-1 and 250 kg N ha^-1, respectively

Point 5 and 6: "the x-axis show N doses" instead of current form, "the y-axes shows the yield of winter wheat grain" instead of current form. It is recommended to check. For clarification, it is recommended to see Figure 2 (a, b and c) where the graphical representation is correct (x-axis shows N doses, and y-axis shows yield) (line 140 in the pdf file).

Response: The descriptions of the axes have been corrected (lines 142-143).

The text after changes: The x-axis shows N doses, and the y-axis shows the yield of winter wheat grain.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

The manuscript presented for review is very interesting. It has both a scientific and a practical dimension. It is well written.
In the chapter: materials and methods, please complete the information on the forecrop.

More details：

The work presented for review on Efficiency of nitrogen fertilization of winter wheat depending on sulfur fertilization 'contains a lot of valuable information. It is interesting from a scientific point of view and has a practical dimension. The use of precise doses of mineral fertilizers and increasing their bioavailability performs not only production but also environmental functions. By limiting, among others soil degradation or air, soil and water pollution.
I rate the overall value of the work highly.
The applied research methods and research material are correct.
The material and methods section requires supplementing: please indicate which plant was the previous crop.
The interpretation of the results is correct.
The cited literature on the research problem undertaken is correctly selected and up-to-date.

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 2 Comments

General comments: The manuscript presented for review is very interesting. It has both a scientific and a practical dimension. It is well written. In the chapter: materials and methods, please complete the information on the forecrop.

More details: The work presented for review on Efficiency of nitrogen fertilization of winter wheat depending on sulfur fertilization 'contains a lot of valuable information. It is interesting from a scientific point of view and has a practical dimension. The use of precise doses of mineral fertilizers and increasing their bioavailability performs not only production but also environmental functions. By limiting, among others soil degradation or air, soil and water pollution.

I rate the overall value of the work highly.

The applied research methods and research material are correct.

The material and methods section requires supplementing: please indicate which plant was the previous crop.

The interpretation of the results is correct.

The cited literature on the research problem undertaken is correctly selected and up-to-date.

Response: Thank you for appreciating our work. We are pleased and honored that you found our manuscript interesting and well written.

The information about the forecrop has been added (line 120).

The text after changes: Sugar beet was the forecrop for winter wheat cultivation.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf