Novel Route Planning System for Machinery Selection. Case: Slurry Application
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
It would be good in the extensive introduction the information about the software used to perform the runs of the proposed simulation, "What version is it? Write more details about numerical work.
It would be nice to include an annotation on the lines 109 to 120; and on lines 226 to 232 . The references used to establish the equations and the Proposed Model. Are own development or are based on another author?. If applicable, the reference should be included.
It is better to provide an up-to-date literature review. There are very good very current examples published on the subject of Sustainability Journal
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
This paper evaluated novel route planning system for machinery selection- Case: slurry application. This study is interesting for precision agriculture.
The material is enough for this paper.
I still have the following comments for the authors:
Precision agriculture’ isn't listed in the keywords, but your study is important for precision farming, please take this into account.
- Introduction:
On what basis was the sentence that the total inoperative distance can be reduced by up to 50% depending on the conditions of the operation? Please explain.
No literature entry has been added to demonstrate that, by using optimal headland patterns, in addition to reducing the inactive distance (then reducing fuel consumption and unproductive time), a reduction in soil compaction at the headland will also be achieved.
- Materials and Methods
It was stated that it was based on standards based on agronomic and environmental standards, any tolerance of ± 30% was considered - please state on which standards it is based?
The work does not contain any statistics. Please indicate if the test was performed in repetitions?
- Results
There is no reference to the literature that maneuvers in the main agricultural field have a negative impact on soil and can reduce yields.
The diagram below shows the values of unproductive time and distance associated with each performance - please note that it is shown in Fig. 10
There is no reference to the literature that the weight of the aggregate affects soil compaction and, in turn, probably also on yield.
Are the presented test results average values? I would like an additional description.
An analysis of the significance of the examined factors was also not presented, and it would be worth showing.
- Discussion
Please correct the form of citation in the entire 'Discussion' chapter probably on [20] (Jensen, Bochtis, and Sørensen, 2015).
The discussion is very poor, please refer to other studies in the light of the literature.
References
The literature review has only 22 items which is insufficient. It is recommended to enrich references.
A review of the published literature on the impact of soil compaction on crop yields was omitted.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Please see attached.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
The manuscript is well written and objectives and conclusions are in the journals aims and should be published. There has been much work similar to this in the chemical application arena and planting scenarios. Most of the past references were from the author’s group – there have been several from USA research centers.
The manuscript has some definition issues that is pointed out in the attached manuscript. Some tables and figures are not mentioned in the text. I would rather have all the table on a single page and if runs over the headers need to be place on the top with “Continued”.
Results and application are very transferrable to other operations. I see nothing unique to slurry application that can't be applied to agrochemical application, planting and harvest.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 3 Comments
Point 1: The manuscript has some definition issues that is pointed out in the attached manuscript. Some tables and figures are not mentioned in the text. I would rather have all the table on a single page and if runs over the headers need to be place on the top with “Continued”.
Response 1:
The authors thank the reviewer for noting this issue. Please find the responses in the attached manuscript (pdf file).
Point 2: Some tables and figures are not mentioned in the text.
Response 2:
The authors appreciate the reviewer for pointing this out. All the tables and figures were addressed in the text.
Point 3: I would rather have all the table on a single page and if runs over the headers need to be place on the top with “Continued”.
Response 3:
The authors thank the reviewer for noting this issue. All the presented tables were located in a single page.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
