Evaluation of the Sustainability of Vineyards in Semi-Arid Climates: The Case of Southeastern Spain
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comment for the authors:
1.- I congratulate the authors of the article for the research they have carried out, since the work presented for evaluation is well founded and structured. In addition, they study a very relevant socio-economic reality in the Region of Murcia in southeastern Spain, specifically the sustainability of vineyards in semi-arid climates. However, it is necessary to clarify and / or develop some ideas discussed in the article.
2.- It is necessary to indicate the sources in all tables of the article (Tables 1-10), and in all figures (Figures 1-4). In the article tables, starting on page 4 (Table 1), the source of the data shown is not indicated. Therefore, it is necessary to indicate the source in all Tables and Figures. If the source is the authors’ own elaboration or is the authors' fieldwork, as it appears to be, it must be indicated. This should be done with all the tables in the article.
3.- In research articles it is necessary to emphasize the central ideas and questions of the research carried out. In the article, the working hypotheses are not explicitly indicated. It is necessary to indicate the hypothesis or hypotheses that are worked on in the article. This can help readers identify the central ideas under investigation. It would also be useful to make explicit how the hypotheses are linked to the article's research question.
4.- In the conclusions, which are very brief for the research carried out, it is convenient to indicate the limitations of the research carried out. In other words, it is recommended that the conclusions explicitly comment on the possible limitations of the research presented in the article. This can add more rigor to the research presented and give the authors new ideas to continue their work in the future. For example, one of the limitations of the research presented is that it does not take into account socio-demographic profile of the farmers of the studied vineyards. Probably the reduction of vineyard crops and/or “area occupied by vineyards” in the region of Murcia in the last decade, as stated on page 2, is linked to a certain profile of the farmers and/or land uses (age, type of farm, method of cultivation of the vineyard, area of the farm, structure of farm ownership, etc). In other words, it is possible that a certain socio-demographic profile of vineyard farmers is much less sustainable with respect to the changes derived from climate change. And for this reason, these farmers had to abandon their profession in the region of Murcia, between 2011 and 2020. Perhaps some minimal information about it could be provided in the introduction.
In this regards, in the conclusions it is convenient to show the new research questions that arise after the study carried out. The latter allows continuing the research undertaken in the near future, by the authors of the article or other researchers.
Author Response
Reviewer 1
Comment for the authors:
- - I congratulate the authors of the article for the research they have carried out, since the work presented for evaluation is well founded and structured. In addition, they study a very relevant socio-economic reality in the Region of Murcia in southeastern Spain, specifically the sustainability of vineyards in semi-arid climates. However, it is necessary to clarify and / or develop some ideas discussed in the article.
- - It is necessary to indicate the sources in all tables of the article (Tables 1-10), and in all figures (Figures 1-4). In the article tables, starting on page 4 (Table 1), the source of the data shown is not indicated. Therefore, it is necessary to indicate the source in all Tables and Figures. If the source is the authors’ own elaboration or is the authors' fieldwork, as it appears to be, it must be indicated. This should be done with all the tables in the article.
In general, in the scientific literature, the source of tables or figures is specified at the bottom only when they are not produced by the author. In this case, all the tables and figures are self-made. In section 2. Materials and Methods, the origin of all the data that appears in tables and figures is justified.
- - In research articles it is necessary to emphasize the central ideas and questions of the research carried out. In the article, the working hypotheses are not explicitly indicated. It is necessary to indicate the hypothesis or hypotheses that are worked on in the article. This can help readers identify the central ideas under investigation. It would also be useful to make explicit how the hypotheses are linked to the article's research question.
The paper developed is a description of various vineyard systems and their corresponding economic and environmental analysis. They are clearly described in the last paragraph of the introduction and in sections 2.1 and following of material and methods.
- - In the conclusions, which are very brief for the research carried out, it is convenient to indicate the limitations of the research carried out. In other words, it is recommended that the conclusions explicitly comment on the possible limitations of the research presented in the article. This can add more rigor to the research presented and give the authors new ideas to continue their work in the future. For example, one of the limitations of the research presented is that it does not take into account socio-demographic profile of the farmers of the studied vineyards. Probably the reduction of vineyard crops and/or “area occupied by vineyards” in the region of Murcia in the last decade, as stated on page 2, is linked to a certain profile of the farmers and/or land uses (age, type of farm, method of cultivation of the vineyard, area of the farm, structure of farm ownership, etc). In other words, it is possible that a certain socio-demographic profile of vineyard farmers is much less sustainable with respect to the changes derived from climate change. And for this reason, these farmers had to abandon their profession in the region of Murcia, between 2011 and 2020. Perhaps some minimal information about it could be provided in the introduction.
In this regards, in the conclusions it is convenient to show the new research questions that arise after the study carried out. The latter allows continuing the research undertaken in the near future, by the authors of the article or other researchers.
In response to the correct comment of the evaluator, we add the following text (based on his suggestions) in the introduction at the end of paragraph 4:
Probably, the reduction of vineyard crops in the region of Murcia in the last decade is linked to a certain profile of the farmers and/or land uses (age, type of farm, method of cultivation of the vineyard, area of the farm, structure of farm ownership, etc.). Unfortunately, we do not have information in this regard.
In conclusions we add the following text in the last paragraph:
However, it seems necessary to carry out studies in the near future that provide an analytical vision of the sociodemographic profile of winegrowers in relation to the sustainability of viticulture activity in vulnerable territories.
Added text is marked in red
Reviewer 2 Report
The paper is well-structured and well-founded, and the subject is attractive in terms of comparing the agricultural methods for Spanish vineyards and the current factors that influence them. I recommend the publication of this paper after the following minor revisions.
- In the materials and methods section, in 2.1, put the exact location of the wineries they mention, lines 132-133.
-On line 148, a parenthesis is missing after the reference.
-On line 166, put the location of the wineries mentioned.
-On line 260, the Agroseguro reference is missing.
-Define Baumé degrees.
-Review the references; some of them are missing data.
Author Response
Reviewer 2
Comment for the authors:
The paper is well-structured and well-founded, and the subject is attractive in terms of comparing the agricultural methods for Spanish vineyards and the current factors that influence them. I recommend the publication of this paper after the following minor revisions.
- In the materials and methods section, in 2.1, put the exact location of the wineries they mention, lines 132-133.
We have modified the document as follows:
…and the wineries Esencia Wine Cellars (Jumilla), Bodegas Castaño (Yecla), and Bodegas del Rosario (Bullas). All of them located in the Region of Murcia.
-On line 148, a parenthesis is missing after the reference.
We correct and add the final parenthesis
-On line 166, put the location of the wineries mentioned.
We have already indicated the location of the three wineries in section 2.1. It would be redundant.
-On line 260, the Agroseguro reference is missing.
We have added the reference (García García, 2019). It's the one numbered 37.
-Define Baumé degrees.
We have added in section 2.4.1. Productive structure of costs and income, last paragraph (Total income) the following:
Baumé degree is used to measure concentrations of solutions, so that 1 Baumé degree (ºBaumé) corresponds to 25 g sugar dissolved in 1 L of must
-Review the references; some of them are missing data.
The following References have been corrected: 2,3, 38,40, 44, 46, 55, 57.
Added text is marked in red
