Review Reports - Effect of 50 Years of No-Tillage, Stubble Retention, and Nitrogen Fertilization on Soil Respiration, Easily Extractable Glomalin, and Nitrogen Mineralization

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear Authors,

Good and valuable work, congratulation. I write my advices here:

Materials and Methods:

2.2 subsection, probably about the Microbial respiration is missing, you need to put this into the manuscript!

Figure 3: reorganize the structure on the page

Fig. 3 and 4: indicate the significant differences with stars or letters and give the LSD value

Figure 5: It seems that you examined the average correlation / regression between the different parameters. If you analyse yearly effects, it would be necessary to examine the connection separately year by year, and represent the significant results.

Conclusions: You must be more precise about the scientific finding and their usability. You can also extend your view on the N availability from the side of the plant-soil system. I mean how the winter wheat, used in the experiment absorbs the nitrogen, and can the N availability be optimized with the timing of the different tillage practices, etc.

References:

Please focus better on the style and punctuation of the reference part, there are several mistakes in it. Italics, bold, subscripts and abbreviations need to be used correctly throrough the entire section.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Materials and Methods:

2.2 subsection, probably about the Microbial respiration is missing, you need to put this into the manuscript!

Please see Section 2.2 (line 97)

Figure 3: reorganize the structure on the page

Figure 3 has been modified

Fig. 3 and 4: indicate the significant differences with stars or letters and give the LSD value

Agreed. Figure 3 and 4 revised. LSD included

We examined the relationship between potential N mineralisation and EEGRSP only for the 2018 sampling.

Optimum rate of fertiliser N can be targeted by considering the availability of potential mineralizable N, and tillage, and stubble management practices.

References:

All the references have been rechecked and corrected

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

The article, "Effect of 50 Years of No-Tillage, Stubble Retention, and Nitro- 2
gen Fertilization on Soil Respiration, Easily Extractable Gloma- 3
lin, and Nitrogen Mineralization" is well written article and provides interesting information. However,

Authors need to provide more detail about sampling, was sampling done only once, as sampling time period can significantly change soil parameters , moreover, its also better to mention number of samples taken.
What kind of experimental design was used? why DMRT analysis were not carried out?
Why two different kind of time (d) have been mentioned, somewhere it is 1,7,15,30, 43, 58,91 and at other places, its 20,40,60,80, 100

Author Response

Authors need to provide more detail about sampling, was sampling done only once, as sampling time period can significantly change soil parameters , moreover, its also better to mention number of samples taken.

Soil sampling had been carried out only once in May 2018 (please see line 92)

What kind of experimental design was used? why DMRT analysis were not carried out?

We used randomised block design, that is, a complete factorial design with 2 tillage (CT, NT), 2 stubble (SB, SR) and 3 N rates (0N, 30 N, 90N), a total of 12 treatments with 4 replications [Lines 79-80], comprising of 48 plots. Please see line 82.

A 3-factor ANOVA was used for statistical analysis, therefore, DMRT (Duncan’s Multiple Range Test) is not required.

Why two different kind of time (d) have been mentioned, somewhere it is 1,7,15,30, 43, 58,91 and at other places, its 20,40,60,80, 100

The latter period intervals are marked on the x-axis (Figure 1 and Figure 2). The graph has been prepared as X-Y graph with equal intervals on X-axis. However, the data has been used for 1,7,15,30, 43, 58,91 days.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx