Improving Rice Yields and Nitrogen Use Efficiency by Optimizing Nitrogen Management and Applications to Rapeseed in Rapeseed-Rice Rotation System
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Dear Authors,
Please find my review of your manuscript.
General
Overall, the experiment was conducted well, and good data was collected, however, authors need to justify the novelty of the study. Studies related to nitrogen management (especially using split applications) in the rice production system are commonplace.
Abstract
A brief method part is missing in the abstract.
Line 27: What is “the treatment”. Rewrite the sentence to improve readability.
Introduction
The literature review is narrow in scope. Please add references from all around the world to make it relevant to a broader audience.
Line 50-62: There is a plethora of studies related to N management in rice. Please make an effort to add more relevant studies in the introduction.
Materials and Methods
Line 116: It seems line numerator of the equations is cut off. Please fix it.
Results.
The sub-headings are really long.
Line 123: “Effects of N application rates during the rapeseed season and N management during the rice season in rapeseed-rice rotation systems, on rice leaf areas” could be changed to “Effects of N application on rice leaf areas”. Other parts of the sub-heading are implied.
Please fix this and other headings accordingly.
Discussion
Discussion in fine.
Conclusion
The discussion section is small, clear, and succinct. I don’t think a conclusion section is needed.
References
Please format the references to Agronomy guidelines.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 1 Comments
Point 1: Overall, the experiment was conducted well, and good data was collected, however, authors need to justify the novelty of the study. Studies related to nitrogen management (especially using split applications) in the rice production system are commonplace.
Response 1: Thank you for your comment. Our study adds interesting results about N-saving and environmentally friendly N application. Moreover, little research has been performed on the rape-rice rotation system.
Point 2: A brief method part is missing in the abstract. Line 27: What is “the treatment”. Rewrite the sentence to improve readability.
Response 2: Thank you for your comment. The abstract of agronomy journal should be a total of about 200 words maximum. Details of our methodology are provided in the main text. The word “treatment ”has been changed to "nitrogen fertilizer management".(line 28)
Point 3: The literature review is narrow in scope. Please add references from all around the world to make it relevant to a broader audience. Line 50-62: There is a plethora of studies related to N management in rice. Please make an effort to add more relevant studies in the introduction.
Response 3: Thank you for your comment. We have added some studies related to N management in rice to the introduction.(line 44-46)
Point 4: Line 116: It seems line numerator of the equations is cut off. Please fix it.
Response 4: Thank you for your comment. We have corrected this error in the revised manuscript.(line 125)
Point 5: The sub-headings are really long. Line 123: “Effects of N application rates during the rapeseed season and N management during the rice season in rapeseed-rice rotation systems, on rice leaf areas” could be changed to “Effects of N application on rice leaf areas”. Other parts of the sub-heading are implied. Please fix this and other headings accordingly.
Response 5: Thank you for your comment. We have revised the sub-headings. We changed the sub-heading you mentioned to, “Effects of N application on rice leaf areas”.(line 133, 155, 185, 219)
Point 6: The discussion section is small, clear, and succinct. I don’t think a conclusion section is needed.
Response 6: Thank you for your comment. We have deleted the conclusion section.(line 322)
Point 7: Please format the references to Agronomy guidelines.
Response 7: Thank you for your comment.We have revised the references according to agronomy guidelines.(line 342-442)
please see the attachment.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
There is no comments for authors. The paper is is prepared corectly and at very interesting form. I suggest to publish this paper without corrections.
Author Response
Thank you for your careful review.
Reviewer 3 Report
The manuscript entitled: "Improving rice yields and nitrogen use efficiency by optimizing nitrogen management and applications to rapeseed in rapeseed-rice rotation system", addresses an important topic related to sustainable fertilization and impact on photosynthesis and yield. This is a study that deserves to be published because it adds interesting results about N-saving, and environmental friendly N application. Moreover little research has been performed on rape-rice rotation system. However, in the writing of the manuscript there are a number of areas that would benefit from clarification and/or more detailed information.
The following aspects should be addressed:
The authors frequently use in the manuscript "model" to refer "treatment", It is more adequate use "treatment" instead "model".
Introduction:
The introduction does not approach to the serious problems caused by excess nitrogen fertilization. It would be appreciated that the authors include a paragraph to refer it.
The introduction does not mention what is the most common fertilization plan used nowadays on rice. It would be appreciated that the authors include a paragraph to refer it.
Materials and Methods:
Line 70: Please express unit as % of organic matter.
Line 96: Please indicate how many times you applied herbicide and in what moment the herbicide was applied.
Line 97: It is better use the term "pest" than "insect, change it.
Lines 97 and 98: Please explain how pest and disease was controlled
Results:
Figure 2: What is "other effective leaf"?
Figure 3: Please indicate that "Pn" is photosynthesis, "Tr" is transpiration and "Gs" is stomatal conductance.
Table 1: Most of scientific works use hectare instead hm2. Please express the unit as kg/ha.
Line 214: What is GPF? I suppose that is Grain Production, but it is not indicate by the authors. Please indicate it.
Line 214: The first time that appear in the text “1000-GW” is in the line 214, however the acronym explanation is in the table 2 (line 230). Please include the acronym explanation in the line 214.
Line 219: The first time that appear in the text “PN” and "SPN" is in the line 219, however the acronym explanation is in the table 2 (line230). Please include the acronym explanation in the line 219.
Discussion:
This manuscript poorly discusses the obtained results with results of previous works that studied the efficiency of nitrogen doses on rice. It is necessary compare these results with the results obtained in other works.
Lines 280 and 281: The authors make an approach to nitrogen content on rapeseed plants, however this is not described in the epigraph of material and methods. In the case that authors are referencing a previous work, please indicate the reference.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 3 Comments
Point 1: The manuscript entitled: "Improving rice yields and nitrogen use efficiency by optimizing nitrogen management and applications to rapeseed in rapeseed-rice rotation system", addresses an important topic related to sustainable fertilization and impact on photosynthesis and yield. This is a study that deserves to be published because it adds interesting results about N-saving, and environmental friendly N application. Moreover little research has been performed on rape-rice rotation system. However, in the writing of the manuscript there are a number of areas that would benefit from clarification and/or more detailed information. The following aspects should be addressed: The authors frequently use in the manuscript "model" to refer "treatment", It is more adequate use "treatment" instead "model".
Response 1: Thank you for your comment.We have revised "model" to "treatment" as suggested. (line 28)
Point 2: The introduction does not approach to the serious problems caused by excess nitrogen fertilization. It would be appreciated that the authors include a paragraph to refer it.
The introduction does not mention what is the most common fertilization plan used nowadays on rice. It would be appreciated that the authors include a paragraph to refer it.
Response 2: Thank you for your comment.We have referred to the relevant literature to explain the environmental problems caused by excessive nitrogen application in the manuscript.(line 44-46)
Point 3: Line 70: Please express unit as % of organic matter. Line 96: Please indicate how many times you applied herbicide and in what moment the herbicide was applied. Line 97: It is better use the term "pest" than "insect, change it. Lines 97 and 98: Please explain how pest and disease was controlled.
Response 3: Thank you for your comment. We have revised the manuscript according to the reviewer's suggestions.(line 74, 101-108)
Point 4: Figure 2: What is "other effective leaf"? Figure 3: Please indicate that "Pn" is photosynthesis, "Tr" is transpiration and "Gs" is stomatal conductance. Table 1: Most of scientific works use hectare instead hm2. Please express the unit as kg/ha. Line 214: What is GPF? I suppose that is Grain Production, but it is not indicate by the authors. Please indicate it. Line 214: The first time that appear in the text “1000-GW” is in the line 214, however the acronym explanation is in the table 2 (line 230). Please include the acronym explanation in the line 214. Line 219: The first time that appear in the text “PN” and "SPN" is in the line 219, however the acronym explanation is in the table 2 (line 230). Please include the acronym explanation in the line 219.
Response 4: Thank you for your comment. We have revised this phrase to "other effective leaves", which refers to effective leaves other than the three leaves on top of the main stem of the hybrid rice. We have explained this more clearly the manuscript. We have also revised the text according to the other reviewer's comments.(line 225, 230-231)
Point 5: This manuscript poorly discusses the obtained results with results of previous works that studied the efficiency of nitrogen doses on rice. It is necessary compare these results with the results obtained in other works. Lines 280 and 281: The authors make an approach to nitrogen content on rapeseed plants, however this is not described in the epigraph of material and methods. In the case that authors are referencing a previous work, please indicate the reference.
Response 5: Thank you for your comment. We have revised the manuscript according to the reviewer's suggestions.We provided a method for the determination of nitrogen in rape plants in materials and methods.(line 106-108, 308-309)
please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Dear Authors,
Thank you for making the revisions. I recommend publication.
Good Luck.
