PONE-D-22-16121Seasonal variations in the nutritive value of fifteen multipurpose fodder tree species: a case study of north-western Himalaya mid-hillsPLOS ONE

Dear Dr. Sharma,

Thank you for submitting your manuscript to PLOS ONE. After careful consideration, we feel that it has merit but does not fully meet PLOS ONE’s publication criteria as it currently stands. The reviewers has recommended publication and my own reading of your MS concurs with this view. However, the reviewers has suggested some further minor revisions to your MS. Therefore, we invite you to submit a revised version of the manuscript that addresses the points raised during the review process.

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Sandeep Rawat, Ph.D.

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

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Additional Editor Comments:

The MS on Seasonal variations in the nutritive value of fifteen multipurpose fodder tree species of Himalaya has scope of publication in this Journal, However, following points need special attention:

1. Introduction section is too long and can be reduced as also indicated by reviewer.

2. Much detailed methodology required for chemical investigation section.

3. Refine the conclusion section.

4. Justification of seasonal variation and classification of fodder species according to plant taxonomy will improve discussion.

5. Productivity and yield of fodder species in different seasons should be included.

Reviewers' comments:

Comments to the Author

1. Is the manuscript technically sound, and do the data support the conclusions?

The manuscript must describe a technically sound piece of scientific research with data that supports the conclusions. Experiments must have been conducted rigorously, with appropriate controls, replication, and sample sizes. The conclusions must be drawn appropriately based on the data presented.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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3. Have the authors made all data underlying the findings in their manuscript fully available?

The PLOS Data policy requires authors to make all data underlying the findings described in their manuscript fully available without restriction, with rare exception (please refer to the Data Availability Statement in the manuscript PDF file). The data should be provided as part of the manuscript or its supporting information, or deposited to a public repository. For example, in addition to summary statistics, the data points behind means, medians and variance measures should be available. If there are restrictions on publicly sharing data—e.g. participant privacy or use of data from a third party—those must be specified.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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4. Is the manuscript presented in an intelligible fashion and written in standard English?

PLOS ONE does not copyedit accepted manuscripts, so the language in submitted articles must be clear, correct, and unambiguous. Any typographical or grammatical errors should be corrected at revision, so please note any specific errors here.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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5. Review Comments to the Author

Please use the space provided to explain your answers to the questions above. You may also include additional comments for the author, including concerns about dual publication, research ethics, or publication ethics. (Please upload your review as an attachment if it exceeds 20,000 characters)

Reviewer #1: The manuscript is well written and well prepared.

However, authors have to advance discussion part to make findings important for international level and not only for african countries. The analytical values of feedstuffs are adequate to characterize before use.

Reviewer #2: Quality fodder to the livestock is the major problem in the country which requires immediate attention. The study by the authors assess and compare the different quality parameters and relative nutritive value of important fodder species of western Himalayan region. The present study is therefore fully justified and a good attempt in addressing the problem of fodder scarcity in Himalayan region. The manuscript s is well written and provides important results to be used by different stakeholders. The introduction is well-written, with clear justifications of background, research gaps, and rationale but need to be reduced. The methodology section has been explained in nice manner. Observations have been recorded in systematic manner using standard methods. Data has been properly analysed according to standard statistical procedure. Results and Discussion part needs some minor corrections as mentioned in track change mode. Table 1 need to be placed after L 126.

The manuscript can be submitted after incorporating the minor suggestions

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Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: Yes

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[NOTE: Reviewer comments are submitted as an attachment file.]

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Attachments

Attachment

Submitted filename: PONE-D-22-16121_reviewer.pdf

Seasonal variations in the nutritive value of fifteen multipurpose fodder tree species: a case study of north-western Himalaya mid-hills

PONE-D-22-16121R1

Dear Dr. Sharma,

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

Within one week, you’ll receive an e-mail detailing the required amendments. When these have been addressed, you’ll receive a formal acceptance letter and your manuscript will be scheduled for publication.

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Kind regards,

Sandeep Rawat, Ph.D.

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Additional Editor Comments (optional):

Reviewers' comments:

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

Comments to the Author

1. If the authors have adequately addressed your comments raised in a previous round of review and you feel that this manuscript is now acceptable for publication, you may indicate that here to bypass the “Comments to the Author” section, enter your conflict of interest statement in the “Confidential to Editor” section, and submit your "Accept" recommendation.

Reviewer #2: All comments have been addressed

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2. Is the manuscript technically sound, and do the data support the conclusions?

The manuscript must describe a technically sound piece of scientific research with data that supports the conclusions. Experiments must have been conducted rigorously, with appropriate controls, replication, and sample sizes. The conclusions must be drawn appropriately based on the data presented.

Reviewer #2: Yes

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3. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #2: Yes

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4. Have the authors made all data underlying the findings in their manuscript fully available?

The PLOS Data policy requires authors to make all data underlying the findings described in their manuscript fully available without restriction, with rare exception (please refer to the Data Availability Statement in the manuscript PDF file). The data should be provided as part of the manuscript or its supporting information, or deposited to a public repository. For example, in addition to summary statistics, the data points behind means, medians and variance measures should be available. If there are restrictions on publicly sharing data—e.g. participant privacy or use of data from a third party—those must be specified.

Reviewer #2: Yes

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5. Is the manuscript presented in an intelligible fashion and written in standard English?

PLOS ONE does not copyedit accepted manuscripts, so the language in submitted articles must be clear, correct, and unambiguous. Any typographical or grammatical errors should be corrected at revision, so please note any specific errors here.

Reviewer #2: Yes

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6. Review Comments to the Author

Please use the space provided to explain your answers to the questions above. You may also include additional comments for the author, including concerns about dual publication, research ethics, or publication ethics. (Please upload your review as an attachment if it exceeds 20,000 characters)

Reviewer #2: (No Response)

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7. PLOS authors have the option to publish the peer review history of their article (what does this mean?). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files.

If you choose “no”, your identity will remain anonymous but your review may still be made public.

Do you want your identity to be public for this peer review? For information about this choice, including consent withdrawal, please see our Privacy Policy.

Reviewer #2: Yes: Rajesh Kaushal

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