The Impact of Foliar Fertilization on the Physiological Parameters, Yield, and Quality Indices of the Soybean Crop

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

General comments

This manuscript presented the interesting data concerning some physiological parameters and quality and yield of soybean as affected by foliar fertilization using AgroArgentumForte.

 The manuscript contains very important and interesting results. However, the way they are presented is far from perfect.

 Detail comments

Introduction

The introduction contains basic information about the history of cultivation and the importance of soybeans. However, it does not present the essence of the undertaken research problem. The importance of the knowledge obtained as a result of the conducted research has not been explained.

There is no research hypothesis, and the purpose of the work is not very clearly presented. The phrase "good development of the crop, formation of production and quality" is ambiguous and imprecise.

Materials and Methods

Lines 81-83 – Authors The authors treat weather conditions in particular years as a factor of the study. In my opinion years are not a research factor because we cannot plan levels of such a factor. We treat the years rather as a repetition of research in different weather conditions (usually also in a bit different soil properties). However, these conditions are random. Of course authors should describe the results taking into consideration weather conditions of particular years.

Results

In the result section Authors present in the text many data from tables. This is not correct model of results description. Unfortunately in many places the results are not the same as in tables. See my comments in the manuscript attached to this review.

In some places it is not clear what the text refers to. (e.g. lines 190-193; 206-208).

Quality of figures 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a and 6b is not acceptable.

Also titles and explanations of figures are not clear (see my comments in the text).

Another remarks are presented as comments in the manuscript attached.

 Discussion

The discussion is very poor and short. Not all results have been analyzed in the discussion.

 Conclusions.

The conclusions are drafted correctly according to the reviewed research, however should be more precise. See my comments in the manuscript.

 Another remarks, concerning mainly referencess are pointed in the manuscript attached.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

The manuscript entitled “Influence of Foliar Fertilization on the Physiological Parameters and Quality Indices of the Soybean Crop” conducted a two-year field experiment to investigate the effects of different doses and applied stages of foliar fertilization on soybean performances. The work is interesting but the problems are obvious and serious.

 

Line 20-21: This sentence is confusing. What is the physiological moment? You can say “ to identify the suitable stages for foliar application in soybean cultivation…”

 

The abstract is hard to read and understand. The authors should carefully revise this part according to other papers in the journals or SCI database. It should be focused on your results and purpose. The treatment description is lacking. Furthermore, the objective of this study is to investigate the effects of different doses and applied stages of foliar fertilization on soybean performances, however, the effects on soybean parameters were only single sentences whilst there was a big length about the effects of years.

 

The introduction only described soybean. The introduction about foliar fertilization is lacking. Why were you investigating foliar fertilization and what is the meaning of the present study?

 

The Results should be divided into serval paragraph with subtitles

 

The measurements of soybean yield and quality are lacking

 

The discussion should be focused on your results and purpose. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of different doses and applied stages of foliar fertilization on soybean performances. Hence, the authors should discuss the suitable stages for foliar application in soybean cultivation, for a good development of the crop, formation of production and quality.

 

The writing of the manuscript can be improved

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

It can be seen that authors revised the manuscript according to my comments.