Design, DEM Simulation, and Field Experiments of a Novel Precision Seeder for Dry Direct-Seeded Rice with Film Mulching

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The manuscript entitled "Design, DEM simulation and field experiments of a novel precision seeder for dry direct-seeded rice with film mulching” by Hui Li et al. presents a combined seeding method for dry direct-seeded rice with film mulching. The theoretical calculations, discrete element modelling simulations and field experiments were conducted in the presented study. Since a conventional rice cultivation technology in Asia is highly labour-intensive and water-intensive, new and more efficient methods for rice cultivation are required. The authors propose improved seeder for dry direct-seeded rice that will be able to improve effectiveness of the process. An application of both numerical technique and field experiments allowed for establishing optimal parameters for elements of devices and validation of a new seeder.
The field experiments contribute to providing a new machine for dry direct-seeded rice with film mulching of high quality, without blockage of the telescopic pipe, as well as the development of precision agriculture. 

Both, novelty and significance of the research are pointed out in the manuscript and paper is well organized.

I suggest to make the following  revision:

1.    Subsection 4.1. There is not reference to Fig 8 in the text of manuscript.  
2.    Subsection 4.2. Fig 8a, 8b should be changed into Fig.9a, 9b. 

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.doc

Reviewer 2 Report

Agriculture-1180856-peer-review-v1

“Design, DEM simulation, and field experiments of a novel precision seeder for dry direct-seeded rice with film mulching”

The article presents a combined seeding method of the mini shovel and telescopic pipe for dry direct-seeded rice with film mulching. The device was designed theoretically and then test using numerical simulations and experiments. The design of experiment was conducted (27 cases) to use for optimization procedure, and the optimal parameter was found. The field experiment showed that the performance of the precision seeder satisfies the requirement of agricultural production.

Comments:

The authors need to emphasize the main objective clearly and show the novelty of their work in comparison to other researches.  The manuscript is well-written and need minor revision.

1. There are some grammatical errors in the manuscript. A careful check is needed. Such as line 123: to moving.
2. I suggest adding the name of different components in the figure shown in Fig.1 instead of the figure caption.
3. Figure 4(b) needs to be changed. The quality is not good and it is better to a 3D figure.
4. Section 2.3.5 is too short. The authors need to merge this paragraph with the previous section.
5. Section 3: Please remove the “experiment” word after DEM simulation and also remove it from the sentences throughout the manuscript. DEM simulation experiment à Dem simulation
6. Please add the name of the different component in Fig. 7(a)
7. Section 3.1.2: It is better to change the “experiment factors” and “experimental index” to “design variables” and “objective function”, respectively.
8. Section 4.2: I guess the authors mean Figure 9a and 9b. (lines 339 and 350).

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.doc