Defining Integrated Weed Management: A Novel Conceptual Framework for Models
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The search for solutions to make plant protection, including weed control, as effective as possible and at the same time with a minimal burden on the environment, is still a current and significant challenge for science.
All ways to optimize these processes are worthy of attention, theoretical development and testing in practice. It is not an easy task considering the huge variation in agrotechnics of a given species not only between countries, but even within a given country.
It seems therefore appropriate to collect information on the widest possible set of factors influencing weed control in the framework of so-called integrated weed management.
The subject matter is very complex and any effort to quantify and give in the form of models to describe and characterise the differences and changes when comparing alternative IWM systems is important and may be helpful in the future.
Broad comments. In my opinion, the manuscript practically does not require changes and can be accepted for publication in this form.
The article focuses only on presenting the approach and assumptions to the model used as a starting point for the development of simulation models of the dynamics of weed communities and resistance to herbicides.
The research methodology is, on the one hand, quite broadly described, on the other hand, it lacks specific information about the countries where the experiments were conducted and their description.
However, I assume that the article serves to approximate the discussed issues and will be developed in the near future in the form of studies containing detailed data on the experiments and their use to develop models allowing to describe the biological biodiversity of arable lands.
Author Response
In my opinion, the manuscript practically does not require changes and can be accepted for publication in this form.
We thank the reviewer for their positive comments
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments for the authors:
The abstract and keywords are written well.
Line 33-38: the authors may say that an IWM depends on from fields to fields and which crop has been planted, etc.
I would like to see a paragraph regarding costs of implementation of IWM comparing to only herbicide application as a tool for weed control. It seems that adoption of IWM is more expensive, and I encourage the authors to provide more information regarding EU financial support to farmers.
In the introduction must be mentioned why is IWM important for weed control and connect it with more recent literature citing about herbicide resistance and weed control failures.
Line 66-73: report if the literature reports some similar framework or not. I think this may be very important for your paper. If yes, inform readers about it.
In general I like how the introduction is written. My suggestion and comments could make it better.
Line 82: list all countries involved in project
Line 83: which cropping systems, which crops have been used? You can add this information as a supplementary material
Line 86: which data?
Line 94: provide abbreviation for pre-emergence herbicide “PRE herbicide” and use it on the next mention
Line 100: explain why window 5 is not included in this framework (this is explained later in the text, line128-133, but I would like to see it at M&M)
It is not clear which statistical model was used for modelling
Line 102-117: it is not clear how weed population is evaluated? Or it is not.
Line 197-199 needs citation for this
Line 275: add reference for intercrop
Line 355: here we cannot see how these object impact weeds
Give more explanation about the potential future influence on IWM by applying this framework
Author Response
The abstract and keywords are written well.
Thank you
Line 33-38: the authors may say that an IWM depends on from fields to fields and which crop has been planted, etc.
A sentence is added (lines 33-34)
I would like to see a paragraph regarding costs of implementation of IWM comparing to only herbicide application as a tool for weed control. It seems that adoption of IWM is more expensive, and I encourage the authors to provide more information regarding EU financial support to farmers.
Some additional text has been written (lines 52-59)
In the introduction must be mentioned why is IWM important for weed control and connect it with more recent literature citing about herbicide resistance and weed control failures.
We feel the current reference to the highly cited Mortensen paper sufficiently makes this point already (lines 38-40)
Line 66-73: report if the literature reports some similar framework or not. I think this may be very important for your paper. If yes, inform readers about it.
We have added a sentence about the novelty of the work (lines 85-86)
In general I like how the introduction is written. My suggestion and comments could make it better.
Line 82: list all countries involved in project
This has been done
Line 83: which cropping systems, which crops have been used? You can add this information as a supplementary material
As this list is currently evolving, we would not be able to publish it definitively at this stage so have decided to not follow this recommendation.
Line 86: which data?
Replaced with 'information', data was the wrong word
Line 94: provide abbreviation for pre-emergence herbicide “PRE herbicide” and use it on the next mention
Done
Line 100: explain why window 5 is not included in this framework (this is explained later in the text, line128-133, but I would like to see it at M&M)
Text has been added (lines 112-113)
It is not clear which statistical model was used for modelling
We didn't quite understand this comment as no statistical modelling was used...
Line 102-117: it is not clear how weed population is evaluated? Or it is not.
Data on weed populations was not used to develop the framework but is an outcome that could be analysed using alternative IWM scenarios -this is now discussed in lines (375-377).
Line 197-199 needs citation for this
Citation added
Line 275: add reference for intercrop
Reference added
Line 355: here we cannot see how these object impact weeds
This sentence was wrongly written and has been corrected to address this misunderstanding
Give more explanation about the potential future influence on IWM by applying this framework
New text has been added (lines 375-381)
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
N/A
