How Weed Control Affects Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Productivity: Results from Two Long-Term Trials
, Paula Maia 1,4, Catarina Gonçalves 3, Jan Jacob Keizer 2 and Carlos Valente 3
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
1. The experiment had many confounding factors e.g. far distanced sites with different agro-climatic conditions, the different timing of treatment applications, different numbers of plots in different sites, starting of experiment in two different years with a gap of 6 years, in one sites many plants were damaged due to windstorm, etc. which made the results confusing.
2. You have excluded the effects of two sites from the GLM analysis but it has already contributed a difference.
3. Many sentences (highlihted) are not clear need rewriting.
4. The treatment distribution can nicely be shown with a drawing for easy understanding for the readers.
Major mistakes are as below -
1. The two sites are located at far distances having difference in edapho-climatic conditions (soil nutrients, temperature, precipitations etc.), which might affected the results of the study.
2. The period of study varies between two sites, which is a factor affecting results and conclusion. Torres [1.5 yr., 5.2 y., & 8.2 yr.] and Soure [1.6 yr., 1.9 yr., & 3.1 yr.]
3. In Northern site, weed control started soon after plantation that means before critical weed-free period i.e. 20 moths after planting, but in Southern site, it started later, which is also a factor affecting the outcomes of the study.
4. Two trials started in two different years with a gap of 6 years, which is very big issue affecting the results.
5. As per their description, two to 10 plots were established on each sites. That means in some blocks only two plots and in other blocks may be 10 plots. One site consists 32 plots and other site consists 55 plots. That may also confound the results.
6. There was a windstorm in Soure site and damaged many plants. Therefore, this factor might affected the results.
7. The authors have excluded the effect of sites from the GLM analysis but it has a significant effect on weed control as well as on plant productivity.
8. The authors have mentioned that the residual effects (lasting period) of herbicide applications varied in two sites, which is an indication of differential effects of different edapho-climatic conditions of two sites.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Some sentences (highlighted) are not well written and needs improvement.
Author Response
The authors would like to thank the reviewer for his or her time spent revising the current work, as well as for the suggestions and comments provided to improve it.
Please see the attachment for the author's response to the reviewer's comments.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Please see attachments
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
The authors would like to thank the reviewer for his or her time spent revising the current work, as well as for the suggestions and comments provided to improve it.
Please see the attachment for the author's response to the reviewer's comments.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
The authors would like to thank the reviewer for his or her time spent revising the current work, as well as for the suggestions and comments provided to improve it.
Please see the attachment for the author's response to the reviewer's comments.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
The explanation given by the authors are not acceptable, since the effects of confounding factors as indicated earlier prevailed in the study.
Its OK
Author Response
The authors would like to thank the reviewer for his or her comment.
A more detailed response is attached.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
