Spatiotemporal Uncertainty and Sensitivity Analysis of the SIMPLE Model Applied to Common Beans for Semi-Arid Climate of Mexico
, Jorge A. Zegbe-Domínguez 2, Agustín Ruiz-García 1, Raquel Salazar-Moreno 1 and Guillermo Medina-García 2
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Generally, the manuscript is very good. The work is a desktop study concentrating on the use of SIMPLE model to carry out an uncertainty and a spatiotemporal sensitivity analysis for growth and production of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) under irrigated and rainfed conditions.
I had only two major comments:
- The Materials and Methods section is very detailed. It could be simplified and shortened.
The Materials and Methods section extends to about 4.5 pages out of 17 pages. Some parts of this section can be reduced. For example, the SIMPLE dynamic model has been described in detail (lines 122-130). It has also been described earlier in the “INTRODUCTION” section (68-75). - The Discussion section could be improved especially in relation to the implications of the results.
In the discussion section, authors have discussed the components of SIMPLE dynamic model and the use of certain parameters included in the model.
It is much appreciated if authors have expanded the discussion to highlight research priorities for scientists (within the framework of the paper) to improve the production of common beans as well as highlighting the importance of their results in supporting decision making related to agricultural industry.
3. Please find here some minor comments :
Line 29 - The scientific name of the common bean should be italic.
Line 50 – Change the word allow to allow for.
Line 71 - The scientific name of the common bean should be italic.
Lines 119-120 - The phrase: “where 0 and 1 refer to planting and 1 to the physiological maturity of the crop.” is not clear.
Line 180 – The subtitle number “2.6.- Global sensitivity analysis” should be changed to 2.4 ?
Lines 211-212 in table 1, change G MJ-1 m-2 to: g MJ-1 m-2
Lines 211-212 in table 1, columns 4,5 change Max and Min to: Min and Max
Line 222 - (MJ-1 m-2) should be changed to MJ m-2. Was this a daily average?
Lines 223-224 – The resolution of the figure should be increased.
Line 228 – TT should be changed to: Thermal time
Lines 330 and 334 – Figures 7 and 8 should be referred to in the text (i.e. they missing in the text).
Line 348 - The subtitle number “4.2.- Uncertainty analysis” should be changed to 4.1 ?
Line 378 - The subtitle number “4.3 Sensitivity analysis” should be changed to 4.2 ?
References – The link to the reference No. 12 is wrong. It leads to the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society.
Author Response
Major comments
- The Materials and Methods section is very detailed. It could be simplified and shortened.
Answer:
According to the reviewer remark the section Materials and Methods was modified as follows:
- The Forrester diagram was deleted.
- The extension of this section was reduced from 4.5 pages to 3.5 pages.
- The Discussion section could be improved especially in relation to the implications of the results.
Answer: two paragraphs were added to the Discussion section
4.2 “The results from the UA are a starting point to explore other limits or other probability density functions for the parameters, considering the physical and biological boundaries, due to the stochastic nature of processes involved in growth and crop development. Overall uncertainty analysis results increase the reliability of SIMPLE model applied to common beans grown in semi-arid lands (Figure 2 and 3).” (new lines 382-385).
4.3. “The global sensitivity analysis carried out (Figures 4-7) allow to determine the most influential parameters of the SIMPLE model therefore the parameters Tsum, Swater, Tbase, I50A and Topt need to be estimated by carrying out a model calibration to apply the SIMPLE model in or as decision support system.” (new lines 442-445)
Minor comments
Line 29 - The scientific name of the common bean should be italic.
Answer: The scientific name was written in italic (new line 33)
Line 50 – Change the word allow to allow for.
Answer: The change was done (new line 54)
Line 71 - The scientific name of the common bean should be italic.
Answer: The scientific name was written in italic (new line 77)
Lines 119-120 - The phrase: “where 0 and 1 refer to planting and 1 to the physiological maturity of the crop.” is not clear.
Answer: The phrase was corrected (new lines 125-126). Thank you.
Line 180 – The subtitle number “2.6.- Global sensitivity analysis” should be changed to 2.4 ?
Answer: The change the done (new line 182).
Lines 211-212 in table 1, change G MJ-1 m-2 to: g MJ-1 m-2
Answer: Table 1 was corrected.
Lines 211-212 in table 1, columns 4,5 change Max and Min to: Min and Max
Answer: The error was corrected. Thank you.
Line 222 - (MJ-1 m-2) should be changed to MJ m-2. Was this a daily average?
Answer: Units were corrected. Yes. It was.
Lines 223-224 – The resolution of the figure should be increased.
Answer: The resolution of the figure was improved.
Line 228 – TT should be changed to: Thermal time
Answer: The suggested modification was done.
Lines 330 and 334 – Figures 7 and 8 should be referred to in the text (i.e. they missing in the text).
Answer: New Figures 6 and 7 are referred to in the text (new line 295).
Line 348 - The subtitle number “4.2.- Uncertainty analysis” should be changed to 4.1 ?
Answer: The subtitle number 4.1 was added. Thank you.
Line 378 - The subtitle number “4.3 Sensitivity analysis” should be changed to 4.2 ?
Answer: The subtitle number 4.1 was added. Thank you.
References – The link to the reference No. 12 is wrong. It leads to the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society.
Answer: The wrong link eliminated.
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments on the whole article
This is generally a good work on the application of the SIPLE crop growth model. Studies like this can help us to develop crop modeling methods that analyze changes in crop production. In many cases, crop growth and development models are used to identify production limiting factors and estimate production to improve the production system efficiency. This study is necessary to know the source of uncertainty and to identify the most relevant parameters in the system’s behavior. This paper has the potential to enrich the discussion on estimating potential, attainable, and actual production.
Chapter-specific comments:
Title: Study region should be indicated.
Abstract: Almost; Concise conclusions are recommended.
Introduction: I think a brief introduction to the SIPLE model is necessary, especially regarding the current production applications situation.
Materials and Methods: Acceptable, but the structure needs to be improved. I suggest rearranging chapter 2.1, this part is confusingly written. Chapters 2.4 and 2.5 are missing! Please mention the statistical methods that you performed.
Results: It is suggested to improve the clarity of the image and add the distinguishing mark appropriately.
Discussion: Suggest rearranging chapter numbers, as 4.1 is missing.
Conclusions: Adequate.
References: Appropriate.
Author Response
Title: Study region should be indicated.
Answer: The title was modified according to the reviewer remark.
Abstract: Almost; Concise conclusions are recommended.
Answer: A couple of conclusions were added following the reviewer suggestion.
“In conclusion, UA was able to quantify accurately the uncertainty of biomass and SA allowed the identification the most influential of the parameters of the SIMPLE model applied to common beans crop.“
Introduction: I think a brief introduction to the SIMPLE model is necessary, especially regarding the current production applications situation.
Answer: According to the reviewer remark the following paragraph was added to the Introduction section.
“The SIMPLE model has been used to estimate potential yield for wheat in vertical farms [26], and it has also been adapted to simulate oilseed flax yield in China [27]”
Materials and Methods: Acceptable, but the structure needs to be improved. I suggest rearranging chapter 2.1, this part is confusingly written. Chapters 2.4 and 2.5 are missing! Please mention the statistical methods that you performed.
Answer: The writing of Subsection 2.1 was improved.
The statistical methods applied to the SIMPLE model were two: an uncertainty analysis, which is described in section 2.3 and a global sensitivity analysis, which is described in section 2.4
Results: It is suggested to improve the clarity of the image and add the distinguishing mark appropriately.
Answer: the quality of the figures was improved.
Discussion: Suggest rearranging chapter numbers, as 4.1 is missing.
Answer: The numbering of the Discussion section was corrected.
