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by
  • Shuang Liu 1,2,
  • Jianye Li 2 and
  • Xingyi Zhang 2,*

Reviewer 1: Anonymous Reviewer 2: Anonymous Reviewer 3: Anonymous

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Please see the attachment

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Thank you for your comments.

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

this is simulation paper, the author should calibrate model with more than one location. and the author should apply the developed model to evalute the tillage effects on multiple regions in China, which will give more useful results. not just clarifying that the model is working well. 

 

Author Response

Thank you for your comments.

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Land_1558844

Title: Simulations of soil water, temperature and heat balance for no tillage
and conventional tillage systems in Mollisols of China

Author: Liu, Shuang

General Comments

The paper presents results from a simulation model to describe soil water, temperature and heat balance for no tillage and conventional tillage systems China.

This is a good idea. Measurements are expensive and time consuming and an effective model could help assess tillage effects.

The model is straightforward, and the application good. The paper is readable, so I have only a few minor comments and concerns. 

 

Specific Comments

  • The Abstract is readable.
  •  
  • The Introduction provides good justification.
  •  
  • The Model Description is logical to me. One question is the Evaluation of Model Outputs. Calculating the good of fit is fine. However, typically simulation models have more extensive verification. For example, is it possible to do a Sensitivity Analysis? It would be interesting to know which variables are responsible for the goods of fit.

 

  • It is nice to see the model variables in Table 3. However, typically the range of values is given. For example, you have 'latitude.' Does this mean that the model applies to only one latitude?

 

  • The poorer fit for soil water storage is not surprising.

 

  • I am surprised that you did not test the model using an independent data set. Simulation is great but one wants to know if the model can provide new information.

 

Author Response

Thank you for your comments !

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear Authors! I appreciate your effort in improving the article. Now it looks much better. However, I have some comments and suggestions.

  1. Table 1. Why you not shown also the data for NT?
  2. In References, you could also add DOI.

Author Response

Thanks for your coments.

Pease see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Author should include scenario studies, just not calibrate the model. field work is already done in previous study. there is no novelty in this study. 

Author Response

Thanks for your coments.

Pease see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf