Quantifying the Spatial Distribution of Soil Nitrogen under Long-Term Drip Fertigation
, Linlin Wang 2 and Yuehong Chen 4
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Please add reference for line 37-38.
please add reference for line 39-41.
Please re-write hypothesis of your study. The current text is not clear. (Line 63-66).
Line 73-74: Please mention amount of fertilizer.
Figure 3-6. If possible, please give colors for the better presentation.
Please add more discussion in results and discussion section.
Please carefully revised article.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Studies on the effects of deep fertigation systems on soil properties particularly soil nitrogen distribution are a few. Researchers here filled a gap in our understanding of spatial (vertical and horizontal) N dynamics in greenhouses through appropriate research design and multifractal analysis.
I have two concerns;
First, the introduction is a bit short on nitrogen distribution in deep fertigations systems. Authors may review the literature and synthesize available information. Currently, there is only one statement on this.
Second, I would like to see major crop rotations in the greenhouse. Is this system being used for one crop only for the last two decades, different crops in each year, or multiple crops throughout the year? I believe selection crop and their traits may also affect soil nitrogen distribution.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
The article describes well that multifractal analysis provides a more detailed description of the spatial heterogeneity of soil properties.
Beyond this description, information on factors influencing heterogeneity would be interesting (Which plants are grown in this greenhouse, at least which ones before sampling? How often is the soil plowed, did it remain unplowed for 20 years?).
Only in passing the influence of grain size and irrigation on nitrogen heterogeneity is discussed. The particle size stages do not match the sampling stages.
Although it is shown that multifractal analysis has added value over the CV value of descriptive statistical analysis, the impression remains that this added value lags behind the visual representation of statistical interpolation (Kriging).
Contradictions between results and conclusions (Δf) definitely need to be corrected.
A detailed error and comment list can be found in the appendix.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
The revised version has been significantly improve and consider for possible publication.
Author Response
We appreciate Reviewer #1 for the positive comments on our work.
Reviewer 3 Report
The authors have conscientiously revised the article formally. The text is now also more coherent in terms of content.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
We appreciate Reviewer #3 for the positive comments on our work.
This manuscript is a resubmission of an earlier submission. The following is a list of the peer review reports and author responses from that submission.
