Review Reports

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors,

I have carefully reviewed your manuscript entitled “Optimizing Basal-to-Topdressing Nitrogen Ratio Enhances Second Basal Internode Reinforcement, Lodging Resistance, and Yield in Winter Wheat.” The study addresses an important and timely issue in wheat production systems, namely the mechanistic linkage between nitrogen management, stem structural reinforcement, lodging resistance, and yield stability.

Overall, the manuscript presents a well-designed field experiment with multi-scale integration of morphological, anatomical, compositional, and mechanical traits. The hierarchical framework (composition → structure → lodging resistance → yield) is conceptually strong and contributes valuable insight into nitrogen-mediated structural regulation. The findings are agronomically relevant and potentially impactful.

However, some aspects need improvement for better understanding and are listed below..

• The N1 treatment increased PH and CGH, these traits are typically associated with increased lodging susceptibility, but the CLRI increased. Although structural reinforcement appears to offset the leverage effect, this biomechanical trade-off is not sufficiently explained. Please clarify how reinforcement traits quantitatively outweighed the increased bending moment associated with greater height.
• The discussion suggests that excessive nitrogen shifts assimilate allocation toward nitrogenous compounds at the expense of structural carbohydrate deposition. While plausible, this mechanism was not directly measured (e.g., protein content, C ratio, lignin biosynthesis enzyme activity). Please moderate the language to reflect this as a hypothesis consistent with the observed patterns rather than a demonstrated causal mechanism.

Overall, this is a strong and well-structured manuscript with clear agronomic relevance and a valuable integrative framework. The study has the potential to make a meaningful contribution to the literature on nitrogen management and lodging resistance in wheat. 

I look forward to reviewing a revised version.

Sincerely,
Reviewer

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I have conducted a detailed review of the manuscript. Overall, the study features rigorous experimental design and comprehensive data, and by integrating multi-scale trait analysis with structural equation modeling, it systematically elucidates the regulatory mechanism by which the nitrogen basal-to-topdressing ratio affects lodging resistance in the second basal internode of winter wheat. The work has substantial scientific value and practical implications. However, the authors need to address the following issues:

1. In the Abstract and Conclusions, tone down the use of “optimal strategy” and replace it with phrases such as “the best-performing strategy under the experimental conditions” or “a recommended strategy.”
2. Introduction section: The research gap should be more clearly articulated. Most existing studies focus on total nitrogen rate or individual lodging-related traits. In contrast, this study emphasizes how the basal-to-topdressing N ratio coordinately regulates lodging resistance and yield through multi-scale traits (morphology–anatomy–composition) of I2. The limitations of previous research—particularly the lack of integration of dynamic, multi-scale traits—should be more explicitly contrasted to highlight the novelty of this work.
3. Introduction: Briefly outline the theoretical basis of the “composition–structure–function” cascade (e.g., lignin/cellulose content → vascular bundle architecture → mechanical strength) to provide a logical foundation for the subsequent structural equation modeling.
4. Table 1 contains a spelling error: “Treament” should be corrected to “Treatment.”
5. The rationale for cultivar selection needs clarification. The manuscript mentions three cultivars (ML, JM, JH) but does not describe their lodging-resistance background (e.g., whether they are locally dominant cultivars, their known lodging resistance ratings). This information should be added.
6. The experiment was conducted over only two growing seasons, with lodging events concentrated in 2022–2023. The authors should comment on the generalizability of the findings under different climatic conditions (e.g., drought, high rainfall) and suggest multi-environment validation in future research.
7. Although the relationship between CLRI and BS is explained in the Methods, Section 2.6 states that “yield was not significantly correlated with BS,” which may cause confusion. It is recommended that the authors clarify in Section 2.6 that BS is a purely mechanical strength indicator, whereas CLRI is a comprehensive lodging-resistance index; consequently, their correlation patterns with yield differ.
8. The authors are advised to conduct a thorough language revision throughout the manuscript, paying particular attention to common issues faced by non-native English speakers, such as article usage, subject–verb agreement, and singular/plural consistency.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The presented work reopens a discussion on the use of fertilizers in agriculture, especially in wheat.
It is well known that wheat fertilization must be particularly balanced to avoid problems during plant growth. It has been demonstrated that nitrogen fertilization (max 3) over the course of a year must be studied and calibrated based on the characteristics of the soil, because it affects the architecture of the plant's roots and consequently the amount of soil the plant is able to explore and the quantity of elements it will be able to acquire thanks to the circulating soil solution, and on the climate trend. In fact, the role of water is fundamental since excessive watering followed by incorrect nitrogen fertilization causes the phenomenon of lodging. The work considers nitrogen fertilization in quantities that do not take into account issues 1: soil and 2: climate (rain).
Furthermore, it should be considered that how much impact does this criterion have on an operational and economic system?

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The author responded well to the comments and improved the manuscript.