Applications of Starch Biopolymers for a Sustainable Modern Agriculture
, Sudhagar Mani 5, Othmane Merah 6,7,* and Terrence Madhujith 8,*
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The manuscript deals with an important issue of the replacement of plastics with biodegradable starch polymer in agricultural applications. The manuscript is well-written and organized. The following points could improve the manuscript:
- In the “Abstract” section, authors mentioned the necessity of plastic replacement. There should be more details about the sections of the manuscript (the main topics which are reviewed in the manuscript about using starch biopolymers). This could help the reader to know the content with skimming the abstract.
- As a review manuscript, it needs to have more statistical data and charts to provide more information especially about the present global usage of plastics in agricultural applications (mulch, silage, nets, …). And if available, please add a market value and economical comparison between plastics and biodegradable polymers.
- The annual agricultural use of each non-degradable polymers could be helpful to note.
- It could be better to add a separate section for starch modification with more details.
- In the section of “starch blending”, authors should add more details about the blending process and put schematics if applicable.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
Thank you for your judicious recommendations which have helped us to improve our manuscript.
Please see in attached file the answers to your recommendations.
best regards,
Authors
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
In my opinion, the present article has a comprehensive overview of the use of starch biopolymers in modern agriculture and its ability to replace plastic and has a good writing structure. Also it has used numerous references.
Please apply the following in the revised manuscript:
P3, lines: 104-110: There are multiple physicochemical reactions that occur in starch. Why did you mention crystallization in Table 1? The importance of crystallization must first be explained in this paragraph.
P8: Explain the waxy and amylopectin starch before the 3.1 section.
The use of natural compounds such as essential oils with starch polymers has also increased their applications. Explain in this regard as well.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
Thank you for your judicious recommendations which have helped us to improve our manuscript.
Please see in attached file the answers to your recommendations.
best regards,
Authors
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
The author should highlight what’s the main goal of biopolymers research activities happening in the most deserving countries t
The author should focus on biopolymer cost-effective device fabrication strategy and applications
More explanation is required for Environmental safety and healthcare research activities related to starch
The author should polish languages and sincere proofreading is required
Overall impression of the reported manuscript seems that it does not include any novel outcome Therefore, I must recommend that the author should give another chance to solve the above quarries.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
Thank you for your judicious recommendations which have helped us to improve our manuscript.
Please see in attached file the answers to your recommendations.
best regards,
Authors
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 4 Report
- Figure 1 needs to be updated, format has to be unified. And why the applications of plastics in agriculture were categorized into five different areas?
- In the Introduction, more details need to be included about the previous strategies that have been introduced to manage polymeric wastes in modern contexts, which are associated with tremendous challenges.
- Figure 2 and 3 can be integrated into one figure, instead, a detailed compositional illustration of film structures can be added.
- Molecular structures to compose the plastic mulch film shown in Figure 4 can be added alongside the figure.
- Figures of the applications as low tunnels, silage and nets needs to be included.
- In Figure 5, what’s the relationship between Microbial polymers with natural and synthetic (man-made) polymers
- In part 4, the biodegradation of different starch/polymers, it would be beneficial for readers to understand the reaction process if the illustration of each reaction can be included in.
- More details of current challenges and perspectives for following research in utilizing starch and starch-based composites/blends needs to be highlighted.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
Thank you for your judicious recommendations which have helped us to improve our manuscript.
Please see in attached file the answers to your recommendations.
best regards,
Authors
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Could be accepted in the present form.
Reviewer 3 Report
Corrections are covering the comments
