Sugarcane Ratoon Yield and Soil Phosphorus Availability in Response to Enhanced Efficiency Phosphate Fertilizer

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear Authors,

Your research paper is interesting because it shows the sugarcane ratoon yield, nutritional status, technological quality and soil phosphorus availability in response to enhanced efficiency phosphate fertilizer. The language appears to be correct, but I don't feel qualified to judge about the English language and style. A major difficulty in reviewing the text is the lack of line numbering. The text is not carefully prepared. Prepare a document according to the guidelines for Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395) https://www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy/instructions. Moreover, I have some remarks and comments. Some are debatable:

1.      Abstract. What is the practical application of your research? Add it.

2.      In my opinion, the introduction are well described

3.     Experimental site and treatments. “The results of soil chemical and particle-size analysis of samples collected after harvesting the first ratoon ….” This information should be in the table. This would make the work easier to read, especially since there are 3 layers of soil.

4.      Figure 2. Instead of "june" there should be "June".

5.   Plant analysis. The formulas should be written in the microsoft equation.

6.      Be consistent in the record of soil layers: "0.10m" or "0.10 m". Correct throughout the text.

7.     Page 9. “Fertilization with P sources and rates had no significant effect on the interaction or the separate factors on the technological quality of sugarcane ?” I don't understand why "?" Why a different font color?

8.     The discussion and conclusion should be improved. Your research shows that the lack of water limits the use of pelleted fertilizer. How does this relate to climate change? What other authors write about it. Does it make sense to use such a fertilizer? Provide practical recommendations based on your own research and other authors.

9.     In conclusion, apart from the statements, there should be conclusions. What is the practical application of your research? What are the recommendations? Please emphasize this in here and the abstract.

10.  The citations in the text and the references list should follow the redaction requirements. See instructions for authors.

The manuscript is interesting, but requires careful checking, preparation according to the instructions for the authors and redrafting of the key parts: discussion and conclusions.

Good luck!

Sincerely yours

Reviewer

Author Response

Dear Reviewer
Thank you for your time and comments on our article.
I'm responding point by point to what you suggested. 

1. What is the practical application of your research? Add it.

Improved summary for better understanding

1. In my opinion, the introduction are well described

Thanks!

1.  Experimental site and treatments. “The results of soil chemical and particle-size analysis of samples collected after harvesting the first ratoon ….” This information should be in the table. This would make the work easier to read, especially since there are 3 layers of soil.

changed

1. Figure 2. Instead of "june" there should be "June".

changed

1. Plant analysis. The formulas should be written in the microsoft equation.

changed

1. Be consistent in the record of soil layers: "0.10m" or "0.10 m". Correct throughout the text.

changed

1.    Page 9. “Fertilization with P sources and rates had no significant effect on the interaction or the separate factors on the technological quality of sugarcane ?” I don't understand why "?" Why a different font color?

changed

1.  The discussion and conclusion should be improved. Your research shows that the lack of water limits the use of pelleted fertilizer. How does this relate to climate change? What other authors write about it. Does it make sense to use such a fertilizer? Provide practical recommendations based on your own research and other authors.

The product is new, and there is an absence of specific literature on it. The lack of precipitation is a hypothesis raised by its low efficiency with an increase in doses in the second year.

1.     In conclusion, apart from the statements, there should be conclusions. What is the practical application of your research? What are the recommendations? Please emphasize this in here and the abstract.

changed

 The citations in the text and the references list should follow the redaction requirements. See instructions for authors.

changed

Any further questions, please do feel free to let us know.

Kind regards,

Clayton

Reviewer 2 Report

The article is of interest for the readers of Agronomy but some important changes are necessary before acceptance of this article.

Comments.

Please re-write abstract, the current abstract is poorly described. Please mention some important results in abstract.

Introduction section is very short, please add some related text with proper explanation. Please avoid short paragraphs.

I suggest to give heading, and sub-heading numbers.

The format of discussion is not good, please give sub-heading or avoid short paragraphs and discuss your results with proper and recent references. Try to make paragraphs of groups variables.

The conclusion format is not correct. Please check some SCI quality article and arrange your conclusion again.

Good luck 

Author Response

Dear Reviewer
Thank you for your time and comments on our article.
I'm responding point by point to what you suggested. 

Comments.

Please re-write abstract, the current abstract is poorly described. Please mention some important results in abstract.

Changed

Introduction section is very short, please add some related text with proper explanation. Please avoid short paragraphs.

Changed

I suggest to give heading, and sub-heading numbers.

Changed

The format of discussion is not good, please give sub-heading or avoid short paragraphs and discuss your results with proper and recent references. Try to make paragraphs of groups variables.

Changed

The conclusion format is not correct. Please check some SCI quality article and arrange your conclusion again.

Changed

Any further questions, please do feel free to let us know.

Kind regards,

Clayton

Reviewer 3 Report

Title: The title of the article is long and complicated, it is better to write the title in a concise, simple and attractive way.

Line 1 in abstract: Breeding for an increased … important

The first sentence of the abstract has little to do with the main topic of your research, it is not necessary to talk about breeding. Please delete.

Line 5 in abstract: n a randomized block design

Please write the name of the full name of your statistical design, randomized complete block design (RCBD).

Line 6 in abstract: MAP and MAP+Policote

What does MAP mean? First define an abbreviation then use it.

Line 7 in abstract: The phosphorus content…

Is this a result or a report belongs to before experiment beginning? Clear it.

Line 10 in abstract: parameters of technological quality

What are them? Please name.

Line 2 in Introduction: approximately 23 million hectares (OECD and FAO 2019)

Update it for 2020, by 26,466,945 hectares (FAO, 2022).

Introduction was written patchy, please link the content. It also needs a re-paragraphing.

Lines 5-11 in Materials and Methods: The results of soil chemical and particle-size …. and 123 g kg-1.

Please arrange this information in a table.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer
Thank you for your time and comments on our article.
I'm responding point by point to what you suggested. 

Title: The title of the article is long and complicated, it is better to write the title in a concise, simple and attractive way.

Changed

 Line 1 in abstract: Breeding for an increased … important

Changed

The first sentence of the abstract has little to do with the main topic of your research, it is not necessary to talk about breeding. Please delete.

Changed

Line 5 in abstract: n a randomized block design

Please write the name of the full name of your statistical design, randomized complete block design (RCBD).

I didn't quite understand your suggestion, but I made the change, please see if it is what you had suggested.

Line 6 in abstract: MAP and MAP+Policote

What does MAP mean? First define an abbreviation then use it.

 Changed

Line 7 in abstract: The phosphorus content…

Is this a result or a report belongs to before experiment beginning? Clear it.

Changed

Linez10 in abstract: parameters of technological quality

What are them? Please name.

 Changed

Line 2 in Introduction: approximately 23 million hectares (OECD and FAO 2019)

Update it for 2020, by 26,466,945 hectares (FAO, 2022).

I could not find this specific quote, however, I did find the FAO 2022 quote that gives a figure of 24.3 million hectares.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Introduction was written patchy, please link the content. It also needs a re-paragraphing.

Changed

Lines 5-11 in Materials and Methods: The results of soil chemical and particle-size …. and 123 g kg-1.

Please arrange this information in a table.

Changed

Any further questions, please do feel free to let us know.

Kind regards,

Clayton