Kinetic Parameters of Soil Enzymes and Temperature Sensitivity Under Different Mulching Practices in Apple Orchards

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors, the manuscript entitled “Kinetic parameters of soil enzymes and temperature sensitivity under different mulching practices in apple orchards” was submitted by Jiang et al. (2025), on Agronomy. This study aimed to analyze the kinetic parameters of soil enzymes and their temperature sensitivities in response to different mulching practices, grass mulching durations, and grass species in the Loess Plateau region.

The study presents an interesting topic, but some adjustments are necessary before it can be accepted for publication. Below are some suggestions for improvement:

• Abstract: The language should be more scientific and precise. There are evident signs of AI-generated text; I recommend revising and refining the wording.
• Introduction: Update the references and clarify the study’s objective, explicitly stating which mulching practices will be analyzed.
• Line 126: Replace with "Materials and Methods."
• Line 131: Italicize the scientific name.
• Figures and Tables: If possible, include a map of the study region to illustrate the experimental setup.
• Tables 2 and 3: The formatting is poor, and the number of decimal places should be reduced for better readability.
• Statistical Analysis: How was the statistical analysis conducted using a single-factor approach when the experiment involves three factors? Reassess the statistical methodology.
• Table 4: It appears unnecessary; consider removing it.
• Discussion: The language suggests the use of AI-generated text. Please refine it and update the references accordingly.
• Line 383: Expand the statement "This is consistent with previous findings" by providing more context or specific references.
• Overall Discussion: The discussion should be more concise and objective.

Addressing these issues will significantly improve the manuscript's clarity and scientific rigor.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Please add a description of the significance test for redundancy analysis in the data analysis section.
Was there any block effect in your statistical test, considering the field is in a randomized complete block design?
Please ensure Table 2 provides better visual clarity.
Maintain consistency in the font format, such as plain or bold.
For line 366, be cautious with the format of parentheses in '(Figure 3.4.5)'.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This manuscript present very important topic on determining the kinetic parameters of soil enzymes and temperature sensitivity under different mulching practices in apple orchards. This is important scientific report and therefore, the article should be accepted for publication, but after some corrections:

1. Please avoid to use personal forms like 'we'. All of such sentences should be rewrite in passive form. 

2. At the end of the introduction part the main aim of this research should be clear highlighted. The part from line 112 to 124 line should be rewrite, it is unnecessary long. Moreover this part belongs to the Material and Methods chapter. 

3. Table 2 is technically unclear. Please rewrite it (maybe all of SD values should be complete under the mean values)

4. The comments of the results are too short. Please present all of the results much more longer. 

5. In the discussion part, only comparision of the results from this study in made with the literature data. Please explain the reasons for your results, why the presented values were obtained, what is the relation between them etc. 

 6. In the conclusion, please give some recommendation from this research, and some future perspectives. 

 

 

 

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The physico-chemical and microbiological properties of the soil, before applying the treatments, where the experiment was located, are not clearly specified.

Also, it should be included the name of the soil type from the experiment site and a few more climate conditions of the area, because they influence the results of the experiment.

The analysis methods for the parameters presented in table 2 are not described: SOC, TN, TP, AP, NH4-N, NO3-N, pH, WC.

There is no WOC presented in the table.

In the note below the table 2, the parameters should be listed after the order in the table, this mention is available for table 4 also.

Usually, when you present some soil properties, the first presented is pH, because it can influence the values of other parameters, please correct this.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The article after corrections should be accepted in its presented form.

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Thank you for your promptness and because you have considered the suggestions offered to improve the article.