Exploration of the Benefits of Biofertilizers for Attaining Food Security in Egypt’s Agriculture
, Yasser M. M. Moustafa 4, Amr A. Hammam 5, Samir A. Haddad 6,* and Nesrin S. Abdelkarim 7,*Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Manuscript ID: agronomy-2601206
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
Title :
Sustainable Solutions for a Changing Climate: Exploring the Benefits of Bio Control and Bio Fertilizers on Egypt's Agriculture
The title is general and completely distant from the subject of the study. A title related to the subject of the study must be used.
Line 32-34 : These good agricultural practices were one step forward to minimize the harmful effects of climate change on the agricultural environment and the growth and production of these crops in Egypt.
- These good agricultural practices may be a step forward to reduce environmental pollution rather than reduce the harmful effects of climate change on the agricultural environment, growth and production of these crops in Egypt. I suggest deleting this sentence
Line 35 : Biomineral; Climate Change; : delete it.
Introduction
The introduction is weak, as it does not deal directly with the specific focus of the study. It did not focus of all sections of this study and the paragraphs were not arranged in line with the order of the parts under study. It also did not address any information about the crops under study at the time when it elaborated on climate changes, although it is not the main subject of the study. It's important to make the primary research focus clear in the introduction. I suggest a rejection the manuscript.
Line 40: although: Change it to a word that fits the context.
42-48 : Rewrite it correctly
"Also, the Nile coastline is already suffring from intensifying development and erosion" : Delete this sentence
Line 58 : food crops : What is meant by it, especially since most of the crops were mentioned after it? I suggest deleting it.
Line 82: called : replaced by : which included
Line 108-116 : In general, microbial fertilizers are considered promising appliances for applying sustainable agriculture, as mainly they can support the health of the plant with enhancing its growth and promoting nutrients availability and its uptake [20]. In this paper, we are focusing on producing some safe and clean crop products through bio-controlling some soil-borne diseases of these crops, as there are few studies on plant disease biocontrol in Egypt. Moreover, the research aims to study the impacts of these biofertilizers, bio-controlling micro-organisms and mineral fertilizers (NPK) on not only soil and microbiological proprieties of the soil, but also on improving the impacts of climate change as well. We also review the microbiological methods that have been improved and behold their application in crop production.
- Rewrite it objectively in line with the study and its objectives without exaggeration.
Line 119 : Study plant species : changed to : studied plant species
Line 126-130 : This paragraph is moved to the introduction.
Line 124 and line 155 : potato yield of tubers (Cara cv.).
and line 155 : Potato tubers (cv. Burren) used in this study were planted.
- The authors mentioned that they used one potato variety while two varieties were mentioned. What is the potato variety used in the study? Is it (Cara cv.) or (cv. Burren)
Line 168: Delete extra spaces before "Egyptian"
Line 168 : Nitrogen : Change it to : nitrogen
Line 172 – 173 : (28.11N, 30.11E) : It has been mentioned previously, so there is no need to repeat it.
Line 182 : 4 changed to : four
Line 183: table 1: Change it to : Table 1.
Table 1 and Table 2 are moved to a line 184
Line 186-187: "A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was carried out during winter with three treatments plus control, 3 replicates for each crop in diffrent experiments."
- Rewrite it.
Line 187 : plus control: delete it.
Line 191 : fed : Use international units in the manuscript.
Line 185-195 : Rewrite this paragraph correctly, mentioning the treatments that were used in the study.
Line 107: Rewrite the equation correctly.
Line 215 : 60 ◦C : Changed to : 60 °C
Line 216 : 4ºC : Changed to: 4°C
Line 218: according to [24]: Changed to : according to Nelson and Sommers [24]
Line 223: according to : Changed to : Described by Olsen et al [26]
Line 118-232 : The characteristics under study that were estimated and evaluated were not mentioned.
Line 236-238 : General sentences and no results explained, explain the results of your study.
Line 239: yield/fed : Change to hectare or square meter.
Line 240 : Figure 2 : The figure is incomplete and is missing one of the experiment treatments. Add to the figure an error bar.
Line 240-247: Rephrase and write this paragraph correctly, mentioning whether or not there is a significant difference between the different treatments and the control treatment.
Line 282 : Figure 3: The figure is incomplete and is missing one of the experiment treatments. Add to the figure an error bar.
Line 288: bio : delete
Line 291 : Remove the extra spaces before "The weight".
Line 289-294 : The differences between the treatments are not significant. Mention this in the explanation of the results.
Line 300: production of : delete
Line 305: "Effect of effective microorganisms (EM) or mycorrhizae and/or integrated with 75% of the recommended NPK doses, on some soil properties: Changed to :
Effect of mycorrhizae, the effective microorganisms (EM), and integrated with 75% of the recommended NPK doses, on some soil properties
Line 307: or : delete
Line 312 -313 : "The soil pH was in a range between 8.08 and 8.16, and signifiantly decreased as affected by T1 (mycorrhizae applications)" Changed to :
The soil pH was in a range between 8.08 and 8.16, by decreased signifiantly as affected by T1 (mycorrhizae applications)
Line 321: (Table 2) : changed to : (Table 3)
305-335 : The manuscript mentioned the results of both onions and potato individually, and in this part the two were combined together!!! Please separate the results for each crop as well as the special treatments for each crop separately.
Line 345: Duncan test : It is not mentioned in materials and methods.
Line 346, Line 348, and Line 360: organic : delete : You did not use organic fertilizers.
Figure 4 and 5: Has the type of fungi growing been identified and defined? Which may just be mold fungi resulting from external pollution, and do all beneficial soil fungi grow in artificial environments?
Figure 6: We cannot rely on it to determine the success of colonization with microrhiza or not, so it would have been better and more correct to examine the root and make a section of it to clarify whether colonization with microrhiza has occurred or not and the presence of fungal hyphae in the roots.
Discussion :
The discussion is very poor and is not a discussion of the results and the reasons for their occurrence, but rather a review of previous studies.
417: The sentence is incomplete, complete it.
Lines 418-420: Use references related to the plants under study (onions and potatoes).
Line 420-422 : "Our results showed that potato yield was increased significantly by inoculation with bacteria in comparison to control treatment" :
- The increase here, according to the results presented, was not significant.
468-471 : The high yield of onion with EM could be as a result of association with higher population of these N fixing bacteria and PSB (Phosphate solubilizing bacteria) present in the soil that activated the effective interaction with roots of plant to ensure higher nutrient uptake.
- One of the biggest problems in Egyptian agriculture and soil is the insoluble phosphorus and therefore its unavailability. Phosphate solubilizing bacteria are not available except by adding them to the soil.
Line 511 : deceased: Changed to : decreased
Lines 510-512: "Moreover, using these bio-controlling bio agents decreased the total cost of producing onion and potato as they deceased the cost of chemical harmful chemical pesticides and a 25 % of the mineral fertilizers of NPK." It is roonge"
- This paragraph is wrong, as it led to a reduction in the cost of fertilization and pesticides by 25%, and not a reduction in the total cost.
Author Response
Reviewer 1
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
Title: Sustainable Solutions for a Changing Climate: Exploring the Benefits of Bio Control and Bio Fertilizers on Egypt's Agriculture
The title is general and completely distant from the subject of the study. A title related to the subject of the study must be used.
Revised, title modified
Line 32-34 : These good agricultural practices were one step forward to minimize the harmful effects of climate change on the agricultural environment and the growth and production of these crops in Egypt.
- These good agricultural practices may be a step forward to reduce environmental pollution rather than reduce the harmful effects of climate change on the agricultural environment, growth and production of these crops in Egypt. I suggest deleting this sentence.
Revised
Line 35: Biomineral; Climate Change; : delete it.
Revised
Introduction
The introduction is weak, as it does not deal directly with the specific focus of the study. It did not focus of all sections of this study and the paragraphs were not arranged in line with the order of the parts under study. It also did not address any information about the crops under study at the time when it elaborated on climate changes, although it is not the main subject of the study. It's important to make the primary research focus clear in the introduction. I suggest a rejection the manuscript.
Revised
Line 40: although: Change it to a word that fits the context.
Revised
42-48 : Rewrite it correctly
Revised
"Also, the Nile coastline is already suffering from intensifying development and erosion" : Delete this sentence
Revised
Line 58 : food crops : What is meant by it, especially since most of the crops were mentioned after it? I suggest deleting it.
Revised
Line 82: called : replaced by : which included
Revised
Line 108-116 : In general, microbial fertilizers are considered promising appliances for applying sustainable agriculture, as mainly they can support the health of the plant with enhancing its growth and promoting nutrients availability and its uptake [20]. In this paper, we are focusing on producing some safe and clean crop products through bio-controlling some soil-borne diseases of these crops, as there are few studies on plant disease biocontrol in Egypt. Moreover, the research aims to study the impacts of these biofertilizers, bio-controlling micro-organisms and mineral fertilizers (NPK) on not only soil and microbiological proprieties of the soil, but also on improving the impacts of climate change as well. We also review the microbiological methods that have been improved and behold their application in crop production.
- Rewrite it objectively in line with the study and its objectives without exaggeration.
Revised
Line 119 : Study plant species : changed to : studied plant species
Revised
Line 126-130 : This paragraph is moved to the introduction.
Revised
Line 124 and line 155 : potato yield of tubers (Cara cv.).
and line 155 : Potato tubers (cv. Burren) used in this study were planted.
- The authors mentioned that they used one potato variety while two varieties were mentioned. What is the potato variety used in the study? Is it (Cara cv.) or (cv. Burren)
Revised
Line 168: Delete extra spaces before "Egyptian"
Revised
Line 168 : Nitrogen : Change it to : nitrogen
Revised
Line 172 – 173 : (28.11N, 30.11E) : It has been mentioned previously, so there is no need to repeat it.
Revised
Line 182 : 4 changed to : four
Revised
Line 183: table 1: Change it to : Table 1.
Revised
Table 1 and Table 2 are moved to a line 184
Revised
Line 186-187: "A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was carried out during winter with three treatments plus control, 3 replicates for each crop in diffrent experiments."
- Rewrite it.
Revised
Line 187 : plus control: delete it.
Revised
Line 191 : fed : Use international units in the manuscript.
Revised
Line 185-195 : Rewrite this paragraph correctly, mentioning the treatments that were used in the study.
Revised
Line 107: Rewrite the equation correctly.
Revised
Line 215 : 60 ◦C : Changed to : 60 °C
Revised
Line 216 : 4ºC : Changed to: 4°C
Revised
Line 218: according to [24]: Changed to : according to Nelson and Sommers [24]
Revised
Line 223: according to : Changed to : Described by Olsen et al [26]
Revised
Line 118-232 : The characteristics under study that were estimated and evaluated were not mentioned.
Revised
Line 236-238 : General sentences and no results explained, explain the results of your study.
The sentences are introduction to the results of all the studied parameters.
Line 239: yield/fed : Change to hectare or square meter.
Revised
Line 240 : Figure 2 : The figure is incomplete and is missing one of the experiment treatments. Add to the figure an error bar.
Revised
Line 240-247: Rephrase and write this paragraph correctly, mentioning whether or not there is a significant difference between the different treatments and the control treatment.
Revised
Line 282 : Figure 3: The figure is incomplete and is missing one of the experiment treatments. Add to the figure an error bar.
Revised
Line 288: bio : delete
Revised
Line 291 : Remove the extra spaces before "The weight".
Revised
Line 289-294 : The differences between the treatments are not significant. Mention this in the explanation of the results.
Revised
Line 300: production of : delete
Revised
Line 305: "Effect of effective microorganisms (EM) or mycorrhizae and/or integrated with 75% of the recommended NPK doses, on some soil properties: Changed to :
Effect of mycorrhizae, the effective microorganisms (EM), and integrated with 75% of the recommended NPK doses, on some soil properties.
Revised
Line 307: or : delete
Revised
Line 312 -313 : "The soil pH was in a range between 8.08 and 8.16, and significantly decreased as affected by T1 (mycorrhizae applications)" Changed to :
The soil pH was in a range between 8.08 and 8.16, by decreased significantly as affected by T1 (mycorrhizae applications)
Revised
Line 321: (Table 2) : changed to : (Table 3)
Revised
305-335 : The manuscript mentioned the results of both onions and potato individually, and in this part the two were combined together!!! Please separate the results for each crop as well as the special treatments for each crop separately.
Soil composite samples were collected from the experimental field for each treatment with regardless of crop.
Line 345: Duncan test : It is not mentioned in materials and methods.
Revised (being added to the materials and methods)
Line 346, Line 348, and Line 360: organic : delete : You did not use organic fertilizers.
Revised
Figure 4 and 5: Has the type of fungi growing been identified and defined? Which may just be mold fungi resulting from external pollution, and do all beneficial soil fungi grow in artificial environments?
Revised (It is a media specialized for the growth of fungi which used for the total counts of fungi)
Figure 6: We cannot rely on it to determine the success of colonization with microrhiza or not, so it would have been better and more correct to examine the root and make a section of it to clarify whether colonization with microrhiza has occurred or not and the presence of fungal hyphae in the roots.
Revised (The figure showing root sections for inoculated and non-inoculated samples)
Discussion :
The discussion is very poor and is not a discussion of the results and the reasons for their occurrence, but rather a review of previous studies.
Revised
417: The sentence is incomplete, complete it.
Revised
Lines 418-420: Use references related to the plants under study (onions and potatoes).
Revised
Line 420-422 : "Our results showed that potato yield was increased significantly by inoculation with bacteria in comparison to control treatment" :
- The increase here, according to the results presented, was not significant.
Revised
468-471 : The high yield of onion with EM could be as a result of association with higher population of these N fixing bacteria and PSB (Phosphate solubilizing bacteria) present in the soil that activated the effective interaction with roots of plant to ensure higher nutrient uptake.
- One of the biggest problems in Egyptian agriculture and soil is the insoluble phosphorus and therefore its unavailability. Phosphate solubilizing bacteria are not available except by adding them to the soil.
Revised
Line 511 : deceased: Changed to : decreased
Revised
Lines 510-512: "Moreover, using these bio-controlling bio agents decreased the total cost of producing onion and potato as they deceased the cost of chemical harmful chemical pesticides and a 25 % of the mineral fertilizers of NPK." It is roonge"
- This paragraph is wrong, as it led to a reduction in the cost of fertilization and pesticides by 25%, and not a reduction in the total cost.
Revised
Finally, we appreciate the time and expertise of you in trying to improve our manuscript. We did our best to follow your comments by reorganizing and reformatting the paper.
Reviewer 2 Report
Authors should somehow connect the main findings with the title "sustainable solutions for a changing climate", and my proposition is that the findings have revealed that, thanks to the use of tested microbial fertilizers, there can be achieved acceptable potato and onion yields with saving 25 % of the regularly used synthetic NPK-fertilizers, thus lessening the energy consumption by the same rate of 25 %.
Line 43: replace "contributed" with "attributed".
line 45: replace "water capacity" with "soil water holding capacity" and insert "and" in front of "availability".
line 46: replace "construction" with "structure".
line 57 to 59: there is missing a reference for the data about food crops decline percentages. It is not clear if the percentages refer to the harvested area or produced output? Please make it clear.
line 61: insert "employ" before the "30 %".
line 63: replace "achieving" with "meeting".
line 65: replace "enhanced" with "are being used".
line 68: replace "particles" with "bodies".
line 73: delete "that work away from bothersome nature".
lines 124 and 125 are in conflict considering the tested potato variety, please harmonize it!
line 156: please state that the distance between rows was 70 cm.
line 181: insert "control" in front of "plot".
line 207: please what does the VAM abbreviation mean?
figures 2 and 3: please depict the LSD values as vertical bars in order to make it easier for the reader to compare the average values.
line 286: replace "increased" with "gave greater than in mycorrhizae treatments".
line 304: replace "or" with "and only 2.7 %".
line 407: replace "improved" with "proved".
line 421 to 422: Potato yield was not increased but ONLY THE TUBER DRY MATTER YIELD PER FEDDAN WAS GREATER. Please add the DM yield figures since this is not presented neither graphically nor in table in the Results chapter!
Line 495: delete "bio controlling" since this was only the application of microorganisms without controlling.
Line 500:insert "dry matter" in front of "yield".
On several places in the manuscript there were mistaken words. Details are in the comments to authors
Author Response
Reviewer 2
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
Authors should somehow connect the main findings with the title "sustainable solutions for a changing climate", and my proposition is that the findings have revealed that, thanks to the use of tested microbial fertilizers, there can be achieved acceptable potato and onion yields with saving 25 % of the regularly used synthetic NPK-fertilizers, thus lessening the energy consumption by the same rate of 25 %.
Thank you very much for your positive comments and your time and effort helping us improving our manuscript. Hopefully, the corrections required have been adequately made.
Line 43: replace "contributed" with "attributed".
Revised
line 45: replace "water capacity" with "soil water holding capacity" and insert "and" in front of "availability".
Revised
line 46: replace "construction" with "structure".
Revised
line 57 to 59: there is missing a reference for the data about food crops decline percentages. It is not clear if the percentages refer to the harvested area or produced output? Please make it clear.
Revised (deleted)
line 61: insert "employ" before the "30 %".
Revised (deleted)
line 63: replace "achieving" with "meeting".
Revised (deleted)
line 65: replace "enhanced" with "are being used".
Revised (deleted)
line 68: replace "particles" with "bodies".
Revised (deleted)
line 73: delete "that work away from bothersome nature".
Revised (deleted)
lines 124 and 125 are in conflict considering the tested potato variety, please harmonize it!
Revised
line 156: please state that the distance between rows was 70 cm.
Revised (mentioned in the experimental design)
line 181: insert "control" in front of "plot".
Revised
line 207: please what does the VAM abbreviation mean?
Revised (VAM is Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal)
figures 2 and 3: please depict the LSD values as vertical bars in order to make it easier for the reader to compare the average values.
Revised
line 286: replace "increased" with "gave greater than in mycorrhizae treatments".
Revised
line 304: replace "or" with "and only 2.7 %".
Revised
line 407: replace "improved" with "proved".
Revised
line 421 to 422: Potato yield was not increased but ONLY THE TUBER DRY MATTER YIELD PER FEDDAN WAS GREATER. Please add the DM yield figures since this is not presented neither graphically nor in table in the Results chapter!
Tubers dry matter was not determined in the experiment.
Line 495: delete "bio controlling" since this was only the application of microorganisms without controlling.
Revised
Line 500:insert "dry matter" in front of "yield".
Revised
Comments on the Quality of English Language
On several places in the manuscript there were mistaken words. Details are in the comments to authors.
Revised and reorganized
Finally, we appreciate the time and expertise of you in trying to improve our manuscript. We did our best to follow your comments by reorganizing and reformatting the paper.
Reviewer 3 Report
General features:
The number of authors is high (in relation to the work carried out).
The bibliography requires an update.
I suggest the use of metagenomics techniques for a more rigorous description
Author Response
Reviewer 3:
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
General features:
1- The number of authors is high (in relation to the work carried out).
Thank you, we are teamwork and each one has a role in this paper as described in the Author Contributions
2- The bibliography requires an update.
It was revised and updated.
3- I suggest the use of metagenomics techniques for a more rigorous description.
Thank you very much for your suggestion, we will consider this in future work, as we can’t do this at this time.
Finally, thank you for your time and effort in helping us improve our manuscript. Your suggestions are precious to us and we will consider them in our future work.
Reviewer 4 Report
Title: Should reflect the essence of the work: delete the first sentence about climate change.
Discussion: reduced in length and discuss the data obtained.
References: too many!!!
Take into account comments on the manuscript
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
According to the points made on the manuscript
Author Response
(Reviewer 4)
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
Title: Should reflect the essence of the work: delete the first sentence about climate change.
Title changed
Discussion: reduced in length and discuss the data obtained.
Revised
References: too many!!!
Thank you for your suggestion, this was a demand of the other reviewers to add more citations to cover the topic
Take into account comments on the manuscript.
Regarding the correction suggested. Please respectfully note that we reorganized and reformed the manuscript completely and we received your report after we submitted our revised manuscript and did the correction of the reviewers' reports (Round 1), all of your comments were already done in the review report (Round 1).
Comments on the Quality of English Language: According to the points made on the manuscript
Thank you very much for your comments, we reorganized our manuscript and improved the language as best as we could.
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Manuscript ID: agronomy-2601206
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
Title :
Exploring the Benefits of Bio Control and Bio Fertilizers on Egypt's Agriculture
Delete : "Biocontrol and"
The study explored the effect and benefits of bio fertilizers. Changed title to :
" Exploration of the Benefits of Biofertilizers on Egypt's Agriculture to Attain Food Security "
Line 1 : "Biofertilizers" or "bio-fertilizers": Use the same form throughout the manuscript
Line 491: "organic" delete it.
Line 502: "organic or" delete it.
Line 564 and Line 567: "organic" change to: " bio-fertilizer"
The study did not use organic fertilizers, but used bio-fertilizers
Line 704: "Addin" Add a space and change to: "Add in"
Line 706 : " application " change to: " Application "
Line 706 : " may " and " extra " delete it.
Line 708 – 710 : " Hamdia et al. [73] indicated that bio-fertilizers using remarkably altered soil ion selectivity improve K+ uptake. It was reported that application of bio-fertilizers led to accumulation of N, P, and K separately and thus maintained balance of nutrients [74. 75] "
Rewrite and rephrase it.
Line 712-718 : " Present findings showed that soil pH values reduced with bio-fertilizer application. The shift in soil pH may be due to the increase in organic acid levels with microbial inoculation which reduces soil pH. Present findings are in harmony with the findings of Gopinath et al. [76] and Jaipaul et al. [77] who report a decrease in soil pH values with bio-fertilizer treatments. Berger et al. [78] reported that bio-fertilizers decreased soil pH and raised soil available P and K levels mainly due to increasing release of K from minerals and organic compounds. "
Rewrite and rephrase it without repeating it.
Line 748: "organic and" delete it.
Author Response
Reviewer 1
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
Title :
Exploring the Benefits of Bio Control and Bio Fertilizers on Egypt's Agriculture
Delete : "Biocontrol and"
The study explored the effect and benefits of bio fertilizers. Changed title to :
" Exploration of the Benefits of Biofertilizers on Egypt's Agriculture to Attain Food Security "
Revised
Line 1 : "Biofertilizers" or "bio-fertilizers": Use the same form throughout the manuscript
Biofertilizers, revised
Line 491: "organic" delete it.
Deleted
Line 502: "organic or" delete it.
Deleted
Line 564 and Line 567: "organic" change to: " bio-fertilizer"
The study did not use organic fertilizers, but used bio-fertilizers
Revised
Line 704: "Addin" Add a space and change to: "Add in"
Revised
Line 706 : " application " change to: " Application "
Revised
Line 706 : " may " and " extra " delete it.
Deleted
Line 708 – 710 : " Hamdia et al. [73] indicated that bio-fertilizers using remarkably altered soil ion selectivity improve K+ uptake. It was reported that application of bio-fertilizers led to accumulation of N, P, and K separately and thus maintained balance of nutrients [74. 75] "
Rewrite and rephrase it.
Revised and rephrased
Line 712-718 : " Present findings showed that soil pH values reduced with bio-fertilizer application. The shift in soil pH may be due to the increase in organic acid levels with microbial inoculation which reduces soil pH. Present findings are in harmony with the findings of Gopinath et al. [76] and Jaipaul et al. [77] who report a decrease in soil pH values with bio-fertilizer treatments. Berger et al. [78] reported that bio-fertilizers decreased soil pH and raised soil available P and K levels mainly due to increasing release of K from minerals and organic compounds. "
Rewrite and rephrase it without repeating it.
Revised
Line 748: "organic and" delete it.
Deleted
Thank you again for your comments and corrections which completely enhanced and improved our manuscript.
