Rice Husk and Its Biochar Have Contrasting Effects on Water-Soluble Organic Matter and the Microbial Community in a Bamboo Forest Soil
, Rong Zhou 1,†, Ronggui Tang 1, Jin Hur 4, Yanjiang Cai 1 and Scott X. Chang 1,3,*Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
the topic is interesting but it must be developed.
the discussion chapter is missing and the conclusion chapter is too short. the analysis developed in chapter 3 is not well discussed and results are shortly presented.
the number of references is low and in the conclusions, there is no link between initial hypothesis and with the scientific background.
Author Response
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Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
The current work by El-Naggar et al, investigated the impact of the application of rice husk and its biochar at different doses (i.e., 0, 10, and 30 t ha-1) on soil carbon stability, the property of water-soluble soil organic matter, and the abundance and diversity of microbial communities to a Lei bamboo forest soil, 262 days after their application. This study shows converting rice husk to biochar is one of the solutions to manage crop residues, which has the merit of enhancing the C stability in the soil. Although, this manuscript has merits and can be considered for publications. However, I have some concerns which need to be incorporated before publishing this manuscript.
Abstract
The abstract contains basic information about the experiment and the obtained data. From my point of view, I have no comments.
Introduction
1 I guess “300-700 °C (lines 46)” is correct.
2 The objective sounds clear. The hypotheses are clearly written but there was obvious. What a pity!
3 Why 262-d?
Materials and Methods
1 Adding the Latin name of Lei bamboo (Line 89).
2 Inserting a map with the location of the experiment directly into the manuscripts.
3 why choose two rates as 10 and 30 t 100 ha-1?
4 Why choose the soil with planted bamboo as the experimental subject?
5 Lines 166-167, “while the large surface area is the second factor that can enhance the CEC in biochar-treated soils”, which is the first factor? A little strange of this sentence to read, another way can be expressed. For example, “while the large surface area is the second factor after XX that can enhance the CEC in biochar-treated soils”.
Results and discussions
1 Did not know the significance level of treatment from Table 1 and Figure 1.
2 Spectroscopic and fluorescence indices should be separated from Table 1, and kindly discuss in the manuscript.
3 Why do both Table 1 and Figure 1 have DOC while different unit? And why the letters representing significance for DOC are different with other indices? Kindly clarify in the manuscript.
4. Why does the relative abundance (%) of carbon functional groups on the Table 2 have no intra-group repetition? Kindly clarify in the manuscript.
5 “genus” or “phylum” in the note under Figure 2? Kindly check in the manuscript.
6 Using clear objectives a to guide the presentation of results and discussion would help to enhance the clarity of the paper.
Conclusions
Adding a paragraph about the potential applications and meanings of this manuscripts.
References
Checking the style of Land.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
the paper is really improved.
before the publication I have only one last comment:
write impersonally: don't write "we hypothesize" but "the paper is grounded on the hypothesis" or similar and, don't use "our results" but "the results of the research" ...
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
