Effects of the Combined Application of Chinese Milk Vetch (Astragalus sinicus L.) and Red Mud to Remediate the Cadmium-Polluted Acidic Paddy Soil
, Lin Luo 3, Shiping Long 5, Huang Huang 2, Li Hu 6 and Yulin Liao 7,*Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Dear Editor in Chief of Sustinability
As the reviewer of the manuscript entitled as ‘Effect of Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus L.) and red mud in
remediation of a cadmium-polluted acidic paddy soil I went through the manuscript and found that it has merits to publish in an international Journal. It suffers from minor shortcomings that I have highlighted on the attached PDF manuscript file. In overall, I am recommending for publication after minor revision. Moreover, I am strongly suggesting to be improved linguistically and grammatically by a native in English.
Sincerely Yours .
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
The authors should expand the discussion. There is not enough information about the mechanism of operation of just such a combination of sorbent. Perhaps this is due to the improvement of aeration or its rinsing capacity, etc. L 228-229 shows this question very superficially.
It also remains unclear to me whether there will be a similar effect for all types of substrates.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
The presented research concerns the remediation of acidic rice soils contaminated with Cd by the use of Astragalus sinicus L. and red mud. This is another method that allows for the cleaning of soils contaminated with toxic heavy metals. The work presents an interesting approach to the problem, is properly organized, however, the novelty of study is not precisely emphasized.
Detailed comments are given below:
Introduction
- The novelty of the study isn’t quite clear to me.
- Lines 95-98: This is a result description. I think this part is unnecessary and I suggest deleting it.
Materials and method
- Please indicate more detailed information about sample collection: how many samples were taken, how samples are collected, how samples were stored etc.;
- Please provide quality control and reference material to Cd determination in samples
- Please indicate the citation to SOM and pH determination.
- Please specify the Cd-fractions which you determined and indicate the details of methodology.
Results and discussion
- Figure 1: Please provide on caption an explanation what the letters above the error bars and the abbreviations of research variants mean;
- Figure 2 -5: Please add more information about abbreviation/ Cd-fraction etc on figure caption
Conclusion
- Please underline why the obtained results are important.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 3 Report
Thank you for responding to my comments. The manuscript may be published in present form.
