Enhanced Carbon Sequestration in Marginal Land Upon Shift towards Perennial C₄Miscanthus × giganteus: A Case Study in North-Western Czechia

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

It is nicely presented work and could add much needed information value to the sustainability study if done properly.  

Some technical suggestions: It would be necessary to mark all the experiment site on Figure S1 to get sense of how comparable these three sites (control, C3 annul wheat and C4 Miscanthus x giganteus).  You also need to clarify how you sampled the four replicates on each site considering the difference between each replicate could be large for field samples.  You gave some information on each replicate for each miscanthus but not for wheat. 

Have you thought about look at the time course using current sampling as control to see if the length of cultivation will introduce more organic matter to the soil?  

Author Response

Reviewer 1:

Dear reviewer, we would like to thank you for accepting to review our paper and for the valuable recommendations which were considered while revision. The paper was also revised for English language by an expert (Mrs. Layal El Wattar) who holds a Bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature (kindly find a copy of her certificate at the end of the letter). All of the modified sentences could be viewed via the “Track Changes” in the revised/modified manuscript.

It is nicely presented work and could add much needed information value to the sustainability study if done properly.

Some technical suggestions: It would be necessary to mark all the experiment site on Figure S1 to get sense of how comparable these three sites (control, C3 annul wheat and C4 Miscanthus x giganteus). You also need to clarify how you sampled the four replicates on each site considering the difference between each replicate could be large for field samples.  You gave some information on each replicate for each miscanthus but not for wheat. 

In fact, Figure S1 represents the location of the entire experimental site comprising the miscanthus and wheat fields, separated by the unplanted pathway. The following figures (Figures S2 a, S2 b, S2 c and S2 d) were modified according to your recommendation, in which the miscanthus and wheat fields were framed and clarified. An explanatory paragraph (at the beginning of section 1.2) was added to explain the added designs (kindly refer to the modified supplementary materials file, bold and highlighted).

The sampling clarification of the soil samples was added to the materials and methods section 2.2 (kindly refer to the modified manuscript, bold and highlighted). Briefly, the area of the miscanthus plot from which the soil and plant samples were collected was 50 m² (5 * 10 m). The same area was taken from the wheat field (50 m², 5 * 10 m). The four replicates within each plot were randomly collected from 4 different plant clusters covering the selected area. The distance between the fields (3.5 m in width and covers the entire wheat field in length) represents the unplanted pathway which corresponds to the initial soil state before plantation of both fields. From this surface, 4 random soil samples were collected as well. The 2 cultivated plots along with the unplanted pathway are illustrated in the modified figures in the supplementary materials (Figures S2 a, S2 b, S2 c and S2 d) (kindly refer to the modified version, bold and highlighted).

Have you thought about look at the time course using current sampling as control to see if the length of cultivation will introduce more organic matter to the soil? 

In fact, the current paper represents an initial/preliminary study which aimed to evaluate and validate the effectiveness and capacity of miscanthus to sequester carbon and enhance the degraded soil quality, on short-term basis, in the specific agricultural field in Chomutov, Czechia. Further studies and objectives are planned among which as you have recommended:

• Evaluate the mid and long- term impacts of the miscanthus plants on the soil organic carbon stocks, taking the current results as reference while also comparing with other similar works in other experimental fields.
• We also aim to generate a larger scale study (nationwide), to assess the soil/miscanthus interactions influence on carbon sequestration, nitrogen fixation, along with the composition and biomass of the microbial community. 

Certificate of Mrs. El Wattar (English Expert).

Reviewer 1:

Dear reviewer, we would like to thank you for accepting to review our paper and for the valuable recommendations which were considered while revision. The paper was also revised for English language by an expert (Mrs. Layal El Wattar) who holds a Bachelor degree in English Language and Literature (kindly find a copy of her certificate at the end of the letter). All of the modified sentences could be viewed via the “Track Changes” in the revised/modified manuscript.

It is nicely presented work and could add much needed information value to the sustainability study if done properly.

Some technical suggestions: It would be necessary to mark all the experiment site on Figure S1 to get sense of how comparable these three sites (control, C3 annul wheat and C4 Miscanthus x giganteus). You also need to clarify how you sampled the four replicates on each site considering the difference between each replicate could be large for field samples.  You gave some information on each replicate for each miscanthus but not for wheat. 

In fact, Figure S1 represents the location of the entire experimental site comprising the miscanthus and wheat fields, separated by the unplanted pathway. The following figures (Figures S2 a, S2 b, S2 c and S2 d) were modified according to your recommendation, in which the miscanthus and wheat fields were framed and clarified. An explanatory paragraph (at the beginning of section 1.2) was added to explain the added designs (kindly refer to the modified supplementary materials file, bold and highlighted).

The sampling clarification of the soil samples was added to the materials and methods section 2.2 (kindly refer to the modified manuscript, bold and highlighted). Briefly, the area of the miscanthus plot from which the soil and plant samples were collected was 50 m² (5 * 10 m). The same area was taken from the wheat field (50 m², 5 * 10 m). The four replicates within each plot were randomly collected from 4 different plant clusters covering the selected area. The distance between the fields (3.5 m in width and covers the entire wheat field in length) represents the unplanted pathway which corresponds to the initial soil state before plantation of both fields. From this surface, 4 random soil samples were collected as well. The 2 cultivated plots along with the unplanted pathway are illustrated in the modified figures in the supplementary materials (Figures S2 a, S2 b, S2 c and S2 d) (kindly refer to the modified version, bold and highlighted).

Have you thought about look at the time course using current sampling as control to see if the length of cultivation will introduce more organic matter to the soil? 

In fact, the current paper represents an initial/preliminary study which aimed to evaluate and validate the effectiveness and capacity of miscanthus to sequester carbon and enhance the degraded soil quality, on short-term basis, in the specific agricultural field in Chomutov, Czechia. Further studies and objectives are planned among which as you have recommended:

• Evaluate the mid and long- term impacts of the miscanthus plants on the soil organic carbon stocks, taking the current results as reference while also comparing with other similar works in other experimental fields.
• We also aim to generate a larger scale study (nationwide), to assess the soil/miscanthus interactions influence on carbon sequestration, nitrogen fixation, along with the composition and biomass of the microbial community.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Nowadays, the study of alternative source to replace fossil fuel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions is a key issue in modern society and is receiving great attention around the world. The article entitled "Enhanced carbon sequestration in marginal land upon shift towards perennial C₄ Miscanthus x giganteus: a case study in North-Western Czechia " is an interesting study that seeks to serve as a basis for future work since it possesses remarkable prospects for soil organic carbon sequestration and restoring degraded lands.

The document is generally clear and well written. The manuscript is prepared in good order with detailed data. On the other hand, the relevance of the review is well reflected. And even provides data on field experiments, something that offers applicability on a larger and realistic scale.

As I have already commented in the review, the article presents an original topic and that today is receiving great attention from society. The relevante of the article is well reflected. It is an interesting and relevant topic for the field, it provides field experimentation, which provides a realistic study and more applicability compared to other types of studies published so far on the same topic.

In general the article is clear and well written. The manuscript is prepared in good order with detailed data. Finally, the discussion and conclusions are consistent with the data presented in the article, which gives the study robustness, and gives an answer to the problem presented in the first place.

Author Response

Reviewer 2:

Nowadays, the study of alternative source to replace fossil fuel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions is a key issue in modern society and is receiving great attention around the world. The article entitled "Enhanced carbon sequestration in marginal land upon shift towards perennial C₄ Miscanthus x giganteus: a case study in North-Western Czechia " is an interesting study that seeks to serve as a basis for future work since it possesses remarkable prospects for soil organic carbon sequestration and restoring degraded lands.

The document is generally clear and well written. The manuscript is prepared in good order with detailed data. On the other hand, the relevance of the review is well reflected. And even provides data on field experiments, something that offers applicability on a larger and realistic scale.

 As I have already commented in the review, the article presents an original topic and that today is receiving great attention from society. The relevante of the article is well reflected. It is an interesting and relevant topic for the field, it provides field experimentation, which provides a realistic study and more applicability compared to other types of studies published so far on the same topic.

In general the article is clear and well written. The manuscript is prepared in good order with detailed data. Finally, the discussion and conclusions are consistent with the data presented in the article, which gives the study robustness, and gives an answer to the problem presented in the first place.

Dear reviewer, we would like to express our appreciation for accepting to review our paper and we would like to thank you as well for your positive feedback. As you have recommended, the entire paper was revised for English language by an expert (Mrs. Layal El Wattar) who holds a Bachelor degree in English Language and Literature (kindly find a copy of her certificate at the end of the letter). All of the modified sentences could be viewed via the “Track Changes” in the revised/modified manuscript.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf