Agronomic Biofortification of Zinc in Rice for Diminishing Malnutrition in South Asia

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The manuscript Sustainability-1717910 “Agronomic Biofortification of Zinc in Rice for Diminishing Malnutrition in South Asia” want to review the strategies for enhancing the Zn concentration of rice through data-driven soil fertility practices, and highlight the data-driven approaches. The topics is meaningful. However, the comments below lay out some major concerns. I recommend that it can be accepted only after major revision if the following problems can be well solved.

General comments:

• There are many writing mistakes in the manuscript. The English writing should be well imported.
• The Introduction section is disorderly, and contain too many paragraphs. It better to summarize into several paragraphs with a clear theme.
• The formats in the manuscript are inconsistent, please check the whole manuscript.
• The references are too old, many of them are between 2000-2010. It better to cite and study the literature of the last ten years. Please update it.
• Figure 4, the use of maps need be approved and comply with local national norm, avoiding unnecessary copyright disputes.

Special comments:

1. Abstract section, line 14-15, it not suitable to describe “previous studies....”, since them should add reference. It better to change another description to avoid add reference in the abstract. The same as line 17.
2. Line 20-22, this sentence is too long and not clear, please rewrite it.
3. Line 26, “are high are likely”??
4. Line 33, there is no need to mention “Fe” in your manuscript.
5. Section 4 Policy options, the empty lines between paragraphs seems large than other section, keep the united format across the whole manuscript, please check.
6. Line 405, should be “7. Conclusions”
7. Table 1, please change it as standard three-wire table.
8. Line 759, what the meaning of “()” after “parentheses”? Please check
9. Line 569, delete the empty line

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

Thanks for your valuable comments and please see attached herewith my response to each of your comments.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

Thanks for your valuable comments and please see attached herewith my response to each of your comments. 

Best regards,

Panneerselvam

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

The authors present an interesting review dedicated to solving the global problem of zinc deficiency in food products, as well as in soils and agricultural plants. The authors comprehensively analyzed this problem and proposed a set of measures to solve it. However, we have a number of comments on its content:

The Zn deficiency problem cannot be solved by fertilizers alone. Most of the microelement will be accumulate in the roots and other vegetative organs.

The Abstracts of the paper only partially reflect its content, namely, in the part that the authors themselves consider the most effective. It is necessary to show in the abstracts others approaches, including selection and achievements of genetic engineering in increasing the zinc content in food products. At the same time, it is desirable not to increase the volume of Abstract.

Similarly, keywords need to be expanded.

Line 29. Zn is not an abbreviation, but a sign of a chemical element.

Introduction. The introduction may have its own heading, say "Actuality of the Zinc Deficiency Problem"

Lines 37-39. Pathogenesis and immunity to COVID-19 are not well understood yet. Therefore, talking about the role of zinc here is speculative.

Line 44: It would be good to quantify divide mortality and morbidity of children due to zinc deficiency. 4% - high mortality rate…

Line 58. Data on the amount of the element coming from cereals are after data on the provision of total energy by cereals, which is illogical.

The Conclusions of the paper should be written more concisely.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,
Thanks for your valuable comments and please see attached herewith my response to each of your comments. 
Best regards,
Panneerselvam

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 4 Report

It was estimated that a considerable proportion of people worldwide suffer from deficiencies of mineral components such as Fe, Zn. Traditional strategies to deliver these nutrients have relied mainly on mineral supplementation, dietary diversification, and food fortification. An alternative complimentary solution to mineral malnutrition is “biofortification.” Biofortification has been defined as the process of increasing the bioavailable concentrations of essential elements in edible portions of crop plants through agronomic intervention or genetic selection. It can be used especially in developing countries because it does not require high costs. Therefore, I think that the issues presented in the manuscript are important and interesting. In my opinion manuscrypt is well written. The authors quite exhaustively discussed the various possibilities of biofortification of rice with zinc.

I have only minor comments:

- Authors should use either full element names or symbols. This needs to be harmonized, especially if it appears in one sentence

- In several places, the year is unnecessarily given in the quotation - you have to delete it (e.g. line 202, 207, 800….;  table 1)

- Figure 1, 2 and 3 -  On the Y axis it is enough to enter the unit (% or mg kg^-1). Description of what it shows is under the diagram

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,
Thanks for your valuable comments and please see below my response to each of your comments. 
Best regards,
Panneerselvam

- Authors should use either full element names or symbols. This needs to be harmonized, especially if it appears in one sentence

Answer: Thank you for the recommendation. Corrected and changed it to be consistent.

- In several places, the year is unnecessarily given in the quotation - you have to delete it (e.g. line 202, 207, 800….;  table 1)

Answer: Thank you for the suggestions. Corrected based on the comments.  

- Figure 1, 2 and 3 -  On the Y axis it is enough to enter the unit (% or mg kg-1). Description of what it shows is under the diagram.

Answer: Thank you for the suggestion. Corrected the Y-axis in all the figures.

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

All of concerns has been well solved, and I have no other comments except following comment:

1. Table 1, S.No 11, "2.0% ZEF(ZnSO₄. 7H₂O) soil application" and "5.0 kg Zb/ha (ZnSO₄. 7H₂O )", wrong format, it should be ZnSO₄·7H₂O.

2. Line 724, change ZnSO4 to ZnSO₄.