Calibration of Discrete Element Simulation Parameters and Model Construction for the Interaction Between Coastal Saline Alkali Soil and Soil-Engaging Components

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

（1）The study aims to calibrate the discrete element parameters a saline alkali soil by both physical tests and optimization using repose tests. Overall, the calibration method is relatively not novel (many related papers were found) and cannot provide useful insights for related researchers in this filed for rapid and accurate determination of discrete element parameters. However, the following suggestions should be considered to improve the manuscript.

（2）Section 2.1: The authors stated that “At the same time, by observing Figure 1, which shows the cross-section of the measured saline alkali soil at 0-30cm, it can be seen that the color of the soil at every 5cm will appear differently, indicating that its physical properties will also be different. Therefore, when measuring its physical parameters and contact parameters, they should be measured separately at every 5cm layer.”. Firstly, the colors differences were not quite big between different depths. Secondly, some color differences between different depths were attributed to many reasons instead of just soil physical properties variations. Please provide more objective statements here.  

（3）Too many figures of common equipment in measuring soil physical properties were found (e.g., Figure 1). The authors should delete some of them and leave only some new equipment or important meters for soil measurement.

（4）Figure 7: The symbols in both figures and tables should be explained at the end of the titles as they should be understood with referring to the main text. Please also revise other figures or tables with similar problems.

（5）A phenomenon was found that soil tightness decreased with increasing soil depth while soil density increased with increasing soil depth. This should be explained.

（6）The language should be extensively improved as many errors were found in reading this manuscript; e.g., the Simple Past Tense should be used in describing the measuring process of soil.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The language should be extensively improved as many errors were found in reading this manuscript; e.g., the Simple Past Tense should be used in describing the measuring process of soil.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

 

Re: agriculture-3332692

 

Xu et al present this article entitled “Discrete element simulation parameter calibration and model construction for the interaction between coastal saline alkali soil and soil-engaging components” for publication consideration in the agriculture journal.  

 

This manuscript provided study on research aiming to the improvement of the performance of key soil contact components of high-performance seed bed preparation equipment and seeding equipment based on the soil characteristics of coastal saline alkali land. 

The authors showed comprehensive report on software development incorporated with hardwires that are useful to remediate saline alkali land. 

The report has good experiment design and sound presentation. 

I have few minor commons:

1. Please consider modify the title to better reflect this work,” Calibration of Discrete Element Simulation Parameters and Model Construction for the Interaction Between Coastal Saline-Alkali Soil and Soil-Engaging Components”. 

2. Abstract could be shorten and use some rewording to summarize authors research.  

Comments on the Quality of English Language

 

Re: agriculture-3332692

 

Xu et al present this article entitled “Discrete element simulation parameter calibration and model construction for the interaction between coastal saline alkali soil and soil-engaging components” for publication consideration in the agriculture journal.  

 

This manuscript provided study on research aiming to the improvement of the performance of key soil contact components of high-performance seed bed preparation equipment and seeding equipment based on the soil characteristics of coastal saline alkali land. 

The authors showed comprehensive report on software development incorporated with hardwires that are useful to remediate saline alkali land. 

The report has good experiment design and sound presentation. 

I have few minor commons:

1. Please consider modify the title to better reflect this work,” Calibration of Discrete Element Simulation Parameters and Model Construction for the Interaction Between Coastal Saline-Alkali Soil and Soil-Engaging Components”. 

2. Abstract could be shorten and use some rewording to summarize authors research.  

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I find the topic interesting but in my opinion this manuscript needs relevant improvements before publication, thank you in advance for taking my comments into consideration:

Specific comments

Title: if possible I would simplify the title

Abstract: a part which summarizes the results is missing, please add

Keywords: the keywords should not repeat the words of the title, please check.

Introduction: please define better "discrete element method". Please define better, at the end of the introduction, how seedbed equipment can interact with soil characteristics and how this is included in your model. Moreover I would reduce a little bit the current introduction and I would add a part about the crops grown in this case study area.

Materials and Methods: page 4 "After statistical analysis, the salt content of soils at depths...." Which kind of statistical analysis? In general, if possible, I would kindly ask to the authors to summarize the different determination methodologies, I think that are standard and can be cited from literature. If not, I would only specify the differences with respect to the standard procedure.

Results and discussion: In my opinion this part should be resived relevantly. It is called "results and discussion" but if I am not mistaken there are no comparisons with cited literature. I think that it is necessary a discussion section separated comparing the presented model with the models in literature. Moreover the results are mainly the soil analyis, while the discrete element model, which sould be supposed to be the core of the article, is just a brief part at the end. Statistical analysis is not specified or performed, in my opinion this is another point to be improved. Another aspect not clear from my side is the connection between soil tillage/seeding equipment and the soil parameters, it is cited in the text but maybe is not discussed in this section.

Conclusions: in my opinion practical conclusions on the use of the case study soils and advice for the farmers (use of equipments for soil tillage and seeding, use of crops, rotations, etc.) are missing.

Thank you very much

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

All comments and suggestions have been properly addressed and responded. The manuscript has been improved significantly and can be considered for acceptance and publication now.

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I would like to thank the reviewers for their ecellent work and for taking into account my suggestions. I think that now tha manuscript is suitable fro publication.