Yield and Grain Quality of Divergent Maize Cultivars under Inorganic N Fertilizer Regimes and Zn Application Depend on Climatic Conditions in Calcareous Soil

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear authors,

 

please continuing with investigations because there are very interesting and promising.

Some more investigations will result with stronger results and new ideas and this field of science.

Best Regards.

 

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

We thank the reviewer for the favourable comments.

Reviewer 2 Report

General comments

 

This manuscript gives important results for the science e.g. nitrogen fertilization in relation with yield and quality in maize.

 

Abstract

Abstract is good. I propose to authors to write more clearly the conclusions.

In Lines 30-32. Author wrote “  Applying N as split doses resulted in higher grain yields than adding at 30 once, and the provision of Zn further supplemented grain yield under split N application” However, Authors did not test separately the effect of Zn. So the results that were found are a combine effect of N splitted fertilization including the Zn. So lines 30-32 are a little confusing. It is better to write Applying N as split doses in combination with Zn, resulted in higher grain yields than adding at once. Also, I propose to authors to write more combat conclusions at the end of the abstract.

 

 

 

Introduction

The introduction is quite informative. However, at the end of the introduction (lines 90-92)       authors wrote “The objectives of this two-year field study were to evaluate the effects 90 of N fertilization regimes along P, K and Zn on the grain yield and quality of four divergent maize cultivars under varying rainfall and temperature conditions. However, the P, K were not tested so it is more wright to write: “The objectives of this two-year field study were to evaluate the effects of N fertilization regimes along with Zn on the grain yield and quality of four divergent maize cultivars under varying rainfall and temperature conditions”

 

 

Material and Methods

The introduction is quite informative

 

 

Results and Discussion

Results are quite informative

.

 

Conclusions

Conclusions need to be improved. At the end conclusions please give in a few lines (3-4) the main conclusions of your experimentation.

 

Minor changes

Please read carefully again for English/grammar errors.

 

Comments for author File: Comments.docx

Author Response

We thank the reviewer for the favorable comments. This sentence has been rewritten and all given comments are addressed properly.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

Thanks much  for the invitation to the review the following  entitled manuscript “Yield and grain quality of divergent maize cultivars under in-organic N fertilizer regimes and Zn application depending on climatic conditions in calcareous soil”

 The following are the suggestion from my side.

## The title is  good but too lengthy  “Yield and grain quality of divergent maize cultivars under in-organic N fertilizer regimes and Zn application depending on climatic conditions in calcareous soil”

##Abstract:  section is much  need to concise.

## Lat long is missing Figure 1. Location map and experimental conditions at the study site

## Put some scientific Keywords that are not in title : vermicompost, sewage sludge, organic waste, Eisenia fetida, agriculture

## too old Figure 1. The quantity of sewage sludge used in agriculture (thousand tonnes) [5]

##Check the data of Table 3. Fertilization effects on grain oil, thiol SH, phytate, inorganic phosphorus, soluble protein 266
and starch contents of four maize cultivars over two years

 Thing are written well and paper is good

 

its can be accept. 

Author Response

We thank the reviewer for the favorable general comments. All given comments are addressed properly.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx