Agroclimatic Risk Zoning of Avocado (Persea americana) in the Hydrographic Basin of Paraná River III, Brazil

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Agroclimatic zoning is the first information to be considered when starting a crop. It provides climate-related risk information and helps in decision-making and agricultural planning. This paper was to carry out climatic risk zoning for the Avocado (Persea americana) in the Paraná River basin 3, Paraná state, Brazil with 43 stations’ meteorological data from 1976 to 2018. The findings of this study suggest that favorable climatic conditions were identified for all climatic variables in the western portion of the river basin, while a small portion in the region eastern the risk of frost restricted the aptitude.

This paper brought out some suggestions which were useful in avocado production. It is a good job but still has to do some revisions.

[1] This paper needs extensive editing of English language and style. It is hard to understand in several parts, like line 116-117 “After we used the edaphoclimatic requirements of the avocado specie to make the data spatialization”.  I don’t think the authors have read this paper carefully enough before submitting. And the writing looks poor. For example, in section “2.2 Agroclimatic risk zoning”, this part looks like a note and a), b) and c) are not in the same format. The whole section is hard to read.

[2] I think the keywords should include avocado and Hydrographic Basin of Parana River 3, Brazil.

[3] Line 55 “The Paraná State, south of Brazil, it is inexpressive… ”, “it” should be deleted.

[4] Line 57-59 “Several 58 studies are carried out around the world to improve management techniques and increase avocado 59 production and productivity”, what are these studies’ findings and what remains to be addressed?

[5] Line 71 “Figure 01”, there is Fig 1 in line 78. Does “Figure 01” refer to “Fig 1”? There are “Figure 01” “Figure 03” ….”Figure 07” in this paper. I suggest to use the same format between figures and text.

[6] Line 106-108 “The risk classes defined for Ta were: High Risk: below 19°C; 107 Medium Risk: between 19° C and 21° C and Low Risk: greater than 21°C “, I think it may be other good ways to define risk categories rather than this sentence.

[7] Line 171 “The water annual deficiencies in these months was not limiting…”, “was” should be “were”.

[8] Line 174 “Since they are demanding plants in humidity”, what are they?

[9] Line 183-185 “since the highest portions near Cascavel had the lowest temperatures and the lowest region the highest average temperatures”, it is hard to understand this sentence.

[10] I don’t find any parts described Figure 6.

[11] Line 201 “Figure 07 shows the final…”, where is “Figure 07”? Is it in line 204?

[12] Line 210 “Preferably the top of the spike and half slope should be used especially on the north facing areas, as, as already pointed out”, there are two “as” here. Should one be deleted?

[13] Conclusions should go before Acknowledgements.

[14] Line 224-226 “In the edge region, the choice of area for cultivation should be careful, avoiding areas more prone to frost and the use of management techniques and sustainable agriculture to mitigate the climate risk”, this sentence is hard to be understood.

Overall, It needs intensive writing editing  before submitting.

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

The paper "Agroclimatic risk zoning of Avocado (Persea americana) in the hydrographic basin of Paraná river 3, Brazil" evaluates very important topic  concerning impact of climate change on agriculture nowadays. The authors have used appropriate methods, individual part are clearly described as well. I only recommend extend a bit a final part of paper - conclusions.

Author Response

We thank the reviewers for important suggestions to improve our manuscript. Below are the responses for each comment. All the suggestions were considered, and the changes made in the revised manuscript using word track changes.

Response to Reviewer 2 Comments

The paper "Agroclimatic risk zoning of Avocado (Persea americana) in the hydrographic basin of Paraná river 3, Brazil" evaluates very important topic concerning impact of climate change on agriculture nowadays. The authors have used appropriate methods, individual part are clearly described as well. I only recommend extend a bit a final part of paper - conclusions.

Response: We thank the reviewers for important suggestions to improve our manuscript. It was done. Conclusions have been refined and extended as recommended.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

The paper is focused on a classical agricultural problem: to examine the land surface areas in respect their possible use for cultivation of various crops, fruits, etc. The main object of the study is the avocado (Persea americana). Study area is the Parana river catchment in Brasil. The main attention in the study is paid to analysis of the long-term dynamics of the key meteorological parameters: air temperature and precipitation. To derive the surface moisture conditions authors used monthly and annual precipitation and potential evapotranspiration (derived using a simplified Thornthwaite approach) that allow to describe the regional moisture conditions.

The paper is in scope of the Journal.

However it needs very significant revisions.

The paper needs extensive editing of English language and style. Some sentences are not understandable. Editing should be done by native speaker.

Abstract is too general. Discussion is very poor and must be extended.

Analysis of obtained results is also very shallow. More deep analysis of obtained data is necessary.

General characteristics of climatic conditions, descriptions of vegetation and soil covers are absent.

It is not clear how authors analyze the water balance of the catchment area without analysis of runoff data? The difference between precipitation and potential evapotranspiration cannot be used for characteristics of water balance in the regions with such complex topography and large precipitation amount.

Some parameters and indexes mentioned in the text are not explained.

Some specific comments can be found in attached pdf file.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

We thank the reviewers for important suggestions to improve our manuscript. Below are the responses for each comment. All the suggestions were considered, and the changes made in the revised manuscript using word track changes.

Response to Reviewer 3 Comments

The paper is focused on a classical agricultural problem: to examine the land surface areas in respect their possible use for cultivation of various crops, fruits, etc. The main object of the study is the avocado (Persea americana). Study area is the Parana river catchment in Brasil. The main attention in the study is paid to analysis of the long-term dynamics of the key meteorological parameters: air temperature and precipitation. To derive the surface moisture conditions authors used monthly and annual precipitation and potential evapotranspiration (derived using a simplified Thornthwaite approach) that allow to describe the regional moisture conditions.

The paper is in scope of the Journal.

However it needs very significant revisions.

The paper needs extensive editing of English language and style. Some sentences are not understandable. Editing should be done by native speaker.

Response: Thanks for the recommendation to do an English native review, to improve our paper. We hope that help to comprehend better. All suggestions mentioned were accepted in this work.

Abstract is too general. Discussion is very poor and must be extended.

Response: The abstract has been revised and the discussion has been inserted from line 29.

Analysis of obtained results is also very shallow. More deep analysis of obtained data is necessary.

Response: We revised the entire text and added substantial discussions.

General characteristics of climatic conditions, descriptions of vegetation and soil covers are absent.

Response: Was made on lines 74-81.

It is not clear how authors analyze the water balance of the catchment area without analysis of runoff data? The difference between precipitation and potential evapotranspiration cannot be used for characteristics of water balance in the regions with such complex topography and large precipitation amount.

Response: We reviewed the explanation of water balance, based on indicators of temperature, precipitation, soil type, evapotranspiration, among other variables. We selected stations with altimetric discrepancies to established the water balance because there is a significant variation in the rainfall.

Some parameters and indexes mentioned in the text are not explained.

Response: Was reviewed and we hope it makes understanding easier.

Some specific comments can be found in attached pdf file.

Response: We appreciate your attention and all comments added to the text to improve our manuscript. All recommendations have been followed.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Agroclimatic zoning is the first information to be considered when starting a crop. It provides climate-related risk information and helps in decision-making and agricultural planning. This paper was to carry out climatic risk zoning for the Avocado (Persea americana) in the Paraná River basin 3, Paraná state, Brazil with 43 stations’ meteorological data from 1976 to 2018. The results identified favorable climatic conditions for all climatic 28 variables in the western part of the river basin. Despite water deficits in some months, rainfall and 29 water balance were not restrictive for avocado production in the region. Avocado tree cultivation is 30 not recommended in the eastern part of the Basin, where there is a considerable risk of frosts.

This paper brought out some suggestions which were useful in avocado production. It is a good job. The authors have made major revisions in the second version. I have two comments here.

[1] I think all figures resolution needs to be improved.

[2] Line 217-218 “ten SIMEPAR–Sistema Meteorológico do Paraná (Brazil) stations (data from 2000 to 2018)”, should it be data from 1976 to 2018?

Overall, I suggest minor revision.

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 1 Comments  - ROUND 2

We thank the reviewers for important suggestions to improve our manuscript. Below are the responses for each comment. All the suggestions were considered, and the changes made in the revised manuscript using word track changes.

Agroclimatic zoning is the first information to be considered when starting a crop. It provides climate-related risk information and helps in decision-making and agricultural planning. This paper was to carry out climatic risk zoning for the Avocado (Persea americana) in the Paraná River basin 3, Paraná state, Brazil with 43 stations’ meteorological data from 1976 to 2018. The findings of this study suggest that favorable climatic conditions were identified for all climatic variables in the western portion of the river basin, while a small portion in the region eastern the risk of frost restricted the aptitude.

This paper brought out some suggestions which were useful in avocado production. It is a good job but still has to do some revisions.

Point 1: I think all figures resolution needs to be improved.

Response 1: All of our maps are in 600 dpi and the graphics, in 300 dpi. We believe that the Microsoft Word has reducing the quality of our indexed images. If you think necessary, we can send the images in a separate document. Thanks.

Point 2: Line 217-218 “ten SIMEPAR–Sistema Meteorológico do Paraná (Brazil) stations (data from 2000 to 2018)”, should it be data from 1976 to 2018?

Response 2: Was provided and we hope it makes understanding easier.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

The paper was significantly revised.

There are a couple comments to the manuscript only.

Line 219-220 For precipitation only data from rainfall stations, we used data from stations that had long term data series (1976-2018).

Sentence is not clear

Line 360 temperature (extracted from the monthly averages of the daily values of each year) were extracted

double "extracted"

Figure quality has to be improved (at least 300 dpi)

Line 615-616  The water deficit in Guairá  continued until May.

water deficiency?

Line 656-657 Because avocado trees typically have deep roots, the plants can extract water from deeper areas of the soil

deeper soil layers or horizonts

Line 751 "the cold front has a preferential displacement"

It is not clear that authors mean 

Author Response

We thank the reviewers for important suggestions to improve our manuscript. Below are the responses for each comment. All the suggestions were considered, and the changes made in the revised manuscript using word track changes.

Response to Reviewer 3 Comments  - ROUND 2

The paper was significantly revised.

There are a couple comments to the manuscript only.

Point 1: Line 219-220 For precipitation only data from rainfall stations, we used data from stations that had long term data series (1976-2018). Sentence is not clear

The paper is in scope of the Journal.

Response: We revised and we hope it makes understanding easier.

Point 2: Line 360 temperature (extracted from the monthly averages of the daily values of each year) were extracted.

double "extracted"

Response: Was done.

Point 3: Figure quality has to be improved (at least 300 dpi)

Response: All of our maps are in 600 dpi and the graphics, in 300 dpi. We believe that the Microsoft Word has reducing the quality of our indexed images. If you think necessary, we can send the images in a separate document. Thanks.

Point 4: Line 615-616  The water deficit in Guairá  continued until May.

water deficiency?

Response: Was done.

Point 5: Line 656-657 Because avocado trees typically have deep roots, the plants can extract water from deeper areas of the soil.

deeper soil layers or horizonts

Response: Was done

Author Response File: Author Response.docx