Balance of Nitrate and Ammonium in Tropical Soil Conditions: Soil Factors Analyzed by Machine Learning
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript entitled "Soil factors influencing the balance of nitrate and ammonium in soil: a perspective" is within the scope of the journal.
The manuscript should be improved prior, to publication. Here are some suggestions.
1. Line 11 "(i) anaerobic conditions promote nitrification......" this information is incorrect as aerobic conditions promote nitrification.
2. Lines 32-38 - Urea is not a mineral fertiliser, it is artificially produced. Urea is an organic compound.
3. Figure 1 on the y-axis instead of kg it should be kg.
4. Figure 2. - The nitration scheme is too simplified. There is no information about the enzymes involved in this process and the amount of energy gained.
5. Figure 5 lacks a description of the Y and X axes. It is not known in which units the numbers are expressed.
6. Heterotrophic nitrification should be described.
7. Conclusions - line 263, the statement "Anaerobic conditions, with adequate distribution of water and air in the pores, promote nitrification..." is incorrect.
8. References should be presented in accordance, with editorial requirements. The names of cited journals should be spelled consistently. Abbreviations and full names should not be used interchangeably.
Author Response
Reviewer 1
Reviewer: 1. Line 11 "(i) anaerobic conditions promote nitrification......" this information is incorrect as aerobic conditions promote nitrification.
Authors: The editions were made. Thanks!
Reviewer:2. Lines 32-38 - Urea is not a mineral fertiliser, it is artificially produced. Urea is an organic compound.
Authors: The editions were made. Thanks!
Reviewer:3. Figure 1 on the y-axis instead of kg it should be kg.
Authors: The editions were made. Thanks!
Reviewer:4. Figure 2. - The nitration scheme is too simplified. There is no information about the enzymes involved in this process and the amount of energy gained. Reviewer: 5. Figure 5 lacks a description of the Y and X axes. It is not known in which units the numbers are expressed.
Authors: I wrote the manuscript based on data analyses without a specific focus on review!
Reviewer:7. Conclusions - line 263, the statement "Anaerobic conditions, with adequate distribution of water and air in the pores, promote nitrification..." is incorrect.
Authors: The editions were made. Thanks!
Reviewer:8. References should be presented in accordance, with editorial requirements. The names of cited journals should be spelled consistently. Abbreviations and full names should not be used interchangeably.
Authors: The editions were made. Thanks!
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsTitle of the manuscript: Soil factors influencing the balance of nitrate and ammonium in soil: a perspective
Manuscript ID: nitrogen-3101378
This study investigated the latest advances in the balance of nitrate and ammonium in the soil to demonstrate how far the soil characteristic helps us understand it. The results showed that there is a high nitrification rate in clayey soil, explained by higher organic matter and clay content that promotes soil biological activities. Overall, this study addresses a topic of high relevance for research and practice. However, important issues need revision and clarification. Therefore, the authors should address the comments below to improve this manuscript before resubmitting.
General comments:
1. The authors should avoid using pronouns such as “we”, “our” and “us” in the whole text.
2. Ensure all figures and tables are cited and discussed in the main text.
Abstract:
3. Please specify the originality and value of the research and its contribution to international literature.
4. This statement, "anaerobic conditions promote nitrification" does not make sense and requires clarification.
A Short Historical Perspective about Nitrogen
5. The novelty of this study can be further justified by highlighting the main contributions to the existing literature. This should be presented in the literature review related to the work.
6. Consider adding the significance of the study in the Introduction section.
7. The authors should highlight how the proposed study addresses the existing gaps.
8. Please explain why it is timeliness to explore such a study and what makes it different from other studies.
9. In line 22, consider changing "most frequently limits" to "most frequently limiting."
10. In line 36, the phrase "promoting the pH increase in soil" should be revised to "promoting an increase in soil pH."
Balance of Nitrate and Ammonium in Soil
11. The discussion on soil acidification should be revised by using recent studies and data.
Soil Factors Influencing the Balance of Nitrate and Ammonium in Soil
12. However, the section is comprehensive, but a more detailed discussion of the effect of different soil types will be discussed.
13. In line 219, the statement "Contents of ammonium (NH4+) to nitrate (NO3-) in soil" should be revised to "Contents of ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3-) in soil."
14. Consider adding a Results and discussion section as follows:
a) State the main findings of the study.
b) Compare and interpret these results in detail with the findings of recent studies.
c) At the end of this section, add the main limitations of the study.
Conclusions and Future Perspectives:
15. This section could explain the implications for future research and agricultural practices in more detail.
16. The focus should be on restating the main results and demonstrating how the research questions have been thoroughly examined and explained.
17. It is important to enrich this section with paragraphs discussing the international policy implications of the study's findings.
18. The theoretical and practical implications of the study's findings should be highlighted in this section.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageModerate editing of the English language required
Author Response
Reviewer 2
Reviewer:1. The authors should avoid using pronouns such as “we”, “our” and “us” in the whole text. Reviewer:4. This statement, "anaerobic conditions promote nitrification" does not make sense and requires clarification. Reviewer:9. In line 22, consider changing "most frequently limits" to "most frequently limiting." Reviewer:10. In line 36, the phrase "promoting the pH increase in soil" should be revised to "promoting an increase in soil pH." Reviewer:13. In line 219, the statement "Contents of ammonium (NH4+) to nitrate (NO3-) in soil" should be revised to "Contents of ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3-) in soil."
Authors: The editions were made. Thanks!
Reviewer:2. Ensure all figures and tables are cited and discussed in the main text.
Authors: The editions were made. Thanks!
Reviewer:3. Please specify the originality and value of the research and its contribution to international literature. Reviewer:5. The novelty of this study can be further justified by highlighting the main contributions to the existing literature. This should be presented in the literature review related to the work. Reviewer:6. Consider adding the significance of the study in the Introduction section. Reviewer:11. The discussion on soil acidification should be revised by using recent studies and data. Reviewer:12. However, the section is comprehensive, but a more detailed discussion of the effect of different soil types will be discussed. Reviewer:14. Consider adding a Results and discussion section as follows:a) State the main findings of the study.b) Compare and interpret these results in detail with the findings of recent studies.c) At the end of this section, add the main limitations of the study.
Authors: More citations were added in the manuscript.
Reviewer:7. The authors should highlight how the proposed study addresses the existing gaps. Reviewer:8. Please explain why it is timeliness to explore such a study and what makes it different from other studies.
Authors: The editions were made. Thanks!
Conclusions and Future Perspectives:
Reviewer:15. This section could explain the implications for future research and agricultural practices in more detail.Reviewer:16. The focus should be on restating the main results and demonstrating how the research questions have been thoroughly examined and explained. Reviewer:17. It is important to enrich this section with paragraphs discussing the international policy implications of the study's findings. Reviewer:18. The theoretical and practical implications of the study's findings should be highlighted in this section.
Authors: I wrote the manuscript again based on data analyses without a specific focus on review! Additional analsysis were added in the text.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsTitle of the manuscript: Soil factors influencing the balance of nitrate and ammonium in soil: a perspective
Manuscript ID: nitrogen-3101378
The authors have adequately addressed my previous comments but there are still some issues that need to be resolved. Here are my minor comments:
1. For more clarity, consider revising the hypothesis regarding the high nitrogen dynamic in soils on page 1, lines 9-12.
2. The rationale for choosing the k-means clustering algorithm for analyzing soil nitrogen dynamics needs to be highlighted in the Methodology section (page 3, lines 102-107).
3. On page 11, lines 352-356, more discussion is needed on the practical implications of the findings for agricultural practices. Please explain how the results can improve nitrogen use efficiency in farming.
4. Page 11, lines 357-359: Add discussion of the application of results in other areas.
5. Page 2, lines 60-64: The terms "labile pool" and "recalcitrant carbon" are used without adequate explanation. Please add the relevant explanations about these terms for more clarity.
Author Response
Reviewer: For more clarity, consider revising the hypothesis regarding the high nitrogen dynamic in soils on page 1, lines 9-12.
Author: This part was edited in the text. Thank you for the suggestion
Reviewer: The rationale for choosing the k-means clustering algorithm for analyzing soil nitrogen dynamics needs to be highlighted in the Methodology section (page 3, lines 102-107). Page 2, lines 60-64: The terms "labile pool" and "recalcitrant carbon" are used without adequate explanation. Please add the relevant explanations about these terms for more clarity.
Author: Description of the k-means clustering algorithm was added in the Methodology section. The discussion of carbon pools also was added in the text.
Reviewer: On page 11, lines 352-356, more discussion is needed on the practical implications of the findings for agricultural practices. Please explain how the results can improve nitrogen use efficiency in farming. Page 11, lines 357-359: Add discussion of the application of results in other areas.
Author: The discussion was added in the conclusion with implications of the findings for future agricultural practices and studies
