Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization of Apple Orchard on Soil Mineral Nitrogen Content, Yielding of the Apple Trees and Nutritional Status of Leaves and Fruits
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Dear author.
Your manuscript addresses an interesting topic. However, it is necessary to include some changes.
Best regards.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Response to Reviews
Please find attached our revised MS “Effect of nitrogen fertilization of apple orchard on soil mineral nitrogen content, yielding of the apple trees and nutritional status of leaves and fruits” which we are resubmitting for consideration by Agriculture.
We are grateful to Reviewers for their thorough reviews of our manuscript and for their useful corrections, comments and suggestions which helped to improve the manuscript. Virtually all of them have been introduced as suggested. Please find detailed comments and answers below. We also would like to thank Reviewers for appreciating of our work.
We hope that the revised version of the MS will be acceptable for the Reviewers and Editor.
Detailed comments
Reviewer #1: we introduced almost all changes, suggested by the Reviewer 1 and inserted by him directly in the text. We decided to leave as unchanged Supplementary Files: the structure of the presented data makes them illegible after they are combined in one figure.
Reviewer #2: Remarks to authors:
Line 15-17 Check grammar plz. It’s better to use Past simple or don’t use “recent” if you mean this research.
Response:
We are grateful for this comment, we have incorporated suggested changes into the MS.
Line 31 Check grammar plz. “Its existence and profitability are inextricably related with…”
Response:
According to the suggestions provided by Reviewer #1, this part of the text was removed from final version of MS.
Line 35 Plz check an article
Response:
Many thanks for this comment, we re-arrangement structure of this phrase and finally decided to stay citation without any changes
Line 51 Plz check the spelling. Change “practises” to “practices”
Response:
We are grateful for this comment, we have incorporated suggested change into the MS.
Line 215-216 The nitrogen content in apple leaves could depend on the number of sunny days during the growing season and, accordingly, the arrival of PAR in each particular year. Did you study the question or fix PAR data? You can find it in the directory and add this information.
Response:
This issue has not been investigated in the presented work.
Line 475-476 Plz check the spelling. Change by “The only studied macroelement, which content in leaves was not dependent on nitrogen fertilization…”
Response:
We are grateful for this comment, spelling has been checked and corrected.
Line 524-538 The chapter "Conclusions" should contain clear recommendations of nitrogen fertilizer applying, highlighting the optimal treatment. Plz add this information.
Response:
Many thanks for this comment, necessary changes has been introduced to the MS
The study has an applied character, in the chapter "Discussion" there is not enough substantiation of the reasons for the obtained regularities of the fertilizer influence on the accumulation and distribution of elements. You should add references or substantiate a hypothesis based on the material already presented. For example: between different ions (nutrient elements), synergism or antagonism is possible, as well as the absence of their interaction. As a rule, ions with opposite charges mutually accelerate their entry into the plant. An example is the absorption of nitrogen (NO3- ions) by plants stimulates the entry of calcium (Ca2+) into them.
Response:
We are grateful for this comment, necessary changes (including citations) has been introduced to the MS.
Line 193, 225, 226 and throughout the text Change "-1" to upper case.
Response:
Many thanks for this comment, necessary changes (including citations) has been introduced to the MS.
Reviewer 2 Report
Undoubtedly, the authors have done a great contribution to research of influence of apple orchard nitrogen fertilization on soil mineral content and quantity and quality of yield. The manuscript can be recommended for publication after the elimination of the following remarks:
Line 15-17 Check grammar plz. It’s better to use Past simple or don’t use “recent” if you mean this research.
Line 31 Check grammar plz. “Its existence and profitability are inextricably related with…”
Line 35 Plz check an article
Line 51 Plz check the spelling. Change “practises” to “practices”
Line 215-216 The nitrogen content in apple leaves could depend on the number of sunny days during the growing season and, accordingly, the arrival of PAR in each particular year. Did you study the question or fix PAR data? You can find it in the directory and add this information.
Line 475-476 Plz check the spelling. Change by “The only studied macroelement, which content in leaves was not dependent on nitrogen fertilization…”
Line 524-538 The chapter "Conclusions" should contain clear recommendations of nitrogen fertilizer applying, highlighting the optimal treatment. Plz add this information.
The study has an applied character, in the chapter "Discussion" there is not enough substantiation of the reasons for the obtained regularities of the fertilizer influence on the accumulation and distribution of elements. You should add references or substantiate a hypothesis based on the material already presented. For example: between different ions (nutrient elements), synergism or antagonism is possible, as well as the absence of their interaction. As a rule, ions with opposite charges mutually accelerate their entry into the plant. An example is the absorption of nitrogen (NO3- ions) by plants stimulates the entry of calcium (Ca2+) into them.
Line 193, 225, 226 and throughout the text Change "-1" to upper case.
Finally, outline directions for further research.
Check the Reference List
Author Response
Response to Reviews
Please find attached our revised MS “Effect of nitrogen fertilization of apple orchard on soil mineral nitrogen content, yielding of the apple trees and nutritional status of leaves and fruits” which we are resubmitting for consideration by Agriculture.
We are grateful to Reviewers for their thorough reviews of our manuscript and for their useful corrections, comments and suggestions which helped to improve the manuscript. Virtually all of them have been introduced as suggested. Please find detailed comments and answers below. We also would like to thank Reviewers for appreciating of our work.
We hope that the revised version of the MS will be acceptable for the Reviewers and Editor.
Detailed comments
Reviewer #1: we introduced almost all changes, suggested by the Reviewer 1 and inserted by him directly in the text. We decided to leave as unchanged Supplementary Files: the structure of the presented data makes them illegible after they are combined in one figure.
Reviewer #2: Remarks to authors:
Line 15-17 Check grammar plz. It’s better to use Past simple or don’t use “recent” if you mean this research.
Response:
We are grateful for this comment, we have incorporated suggested changes into the MS.
Line 31 Check grammar plz. “Its existence and profitability are inextricably related with…”
Response:
According to the suggestions provided by Reviewer #1, this part of the text was removed from final version of MS.
Line 35 Plz check an article
Response:
Many thanks for this comment, we re-arrangement structure of this phrase and finally decided to stay citation without any changes
Line 51 Plz check the spelling. Change “practises” to “practices”
Response:
We are grateful for this comment, we have incorporated suggested change into the MS.
Line 215-216 The nitrogen content in apple leaves could depend on the number of sunny days during the growing season and, accordingly, the arrival of PAR in each particular year. Did you study the question or fix PAR data? You can find it in the directory and add this information.
Response:
This issue has not been investigated in the presented work.
Line 475-476 Plz check the spelling. Change by “The only studied macroelement, which content in leaves was not dependent on nitrogen fertilization…”
Response:
We are grateful for this comment, spelling has been checked and corrected.
Line 524-538 The chapter "Conclusions" should contain clear recommendations of nitrogen fertilizer applying, highlighting the optimal treatment. Plz add this information.
Response:
Many thanks for this comment, necessary changes has been introduced to the MS
The study has an applied character, in the chapter "Discussion" there is not enough substantiation of the reasons for the obtained regularities of the fertilizer influence on the accumulation and distribution of elements. You should add references or substantiate a hypothesis based on the material already presented. For example: between different ions (nutrient elements), synergism or antagonism is possible, as well as the absence of their interaction. As a rule, ions with opposite charges mutually accelerate their entry into the plant. An example is the absorption of nitrogen (NO3- ions) by plants stimulates the entry of calcium (Ca2+) into them.
Response:
We are grateful for this comment, necessary changes (including citations) has been introduced to the MS.
Line 193, 225, 226 and throughout the text Change "-1" to upper case.
Response:
Many thanks for this comment, necessary changes (including citations) has been introduced to the MS.
