PONE-D-24-03273Validating a cassava spatial disaggregation model in sub-Saharan AfricaPLOS ONE

Dear Dr. Alonso Chavez,

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. 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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Recommended Comments.

• I recommend that you provide a description the programs used in the introduction and provide more information on why these programs were used.
• Population density is subjectively used here.  Can you provide more information as to how high, medium, and low-density population levels were defined?   More details are needed in the methods section on the locations used as suggested. For example, details on the population, area under agriculture production, and climate are required to properly define the study locations.

In Table 3 please keep variable names consistent.

There seems to be a conflict with the information in Figure 4. Fig. a Scale on the X axis, “20,000” reported as 2,000.

• Use of a consistent scale for country comparisons.
• Variable names in most figures should be typed out.

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PLOS ONE

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Additional Editor Comments:

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Reviewers' comments:

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

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: Partly

Reviewer #2: Yes

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

Reviewer #1: I Don't Know

Reviewer #2: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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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: Validating a cassava spatial disaggregation model in sub-Saharan Africa

Comments and suggestions

Abstract

On line 31, include the future beneficiaries of this research

In this subheading, answer this questions why, what, how and what for

mention the importance of these studies

Introduction

Line 35, include the reference on the end of period and do this to whole document

from line 41 to 44, unbold and include the information related with cassava yield and the most cassava countries producers.

Line 49, include the reference and mention about studies/ researches related with this subject, describe the methods/ modells and explain why the authors are using this methods, I mean the advantages

line 64, why are you using references on the objective?

Mention the importance of the information of distribution of cassava cultivation, of non-urban population

mention something about satellites measurement difficult

Material and methods

Line 72, there some error, please check and correct, do the same within whole manuscript

line 73, include the reference

I suggest to divide this subheading (locations of the survey, climate and soil, socio-geografic data, farm level, remoting sensing, response variables, statistical analysis, prodution and harvest, administrative units, missing data, spacial and temporal disaggregation, data record ) in order to facilitate the explanation to the readers and avoid misunderstood.

lines 105 and 106, I suggest to include the comma instead and N, and K

line 111 to 113, merge it

line 117, rewrite

line 122, rewrite 1 kmx1Km

line 132, is it comparison or correlation

line 155 to line 163, rewrite and focus on the approach, methods that you used to collect the data

line 165, merge it

on table 3, check the last formula, is that correct?

Line 199 to 201 include the references of AIC and BIC

Results

Line 239, include the reference

line 243 to 245, the total is not 100% locations, could please check it

line 252 and 253, the total is not correct, please check it

line 275, is table 3 or 4, check it, How can we use this information? I notice thar correlation is between response variables. Clarify it,

line 309, include the Anova or in the supplementary data

line 328, include the values of AIC

Discussion

Separate this chapter with conclusions

Do not forget to compare your results with others studies

conclusion

Link or focus on the objectives

References

After consider all corrections and suggestions, cross-check the references within manuscript

Moiana, LD

Genetics and Breeding, Dr. Sc

Senior Research at IIAM/Mozambique

Scientific Coordinator at Rcol for Rice-Namacurra/Zambezia

Reviewer #2: The data presented in the manuscript supports the conclusion drawn. However, there are some areas for improvement especially in the Discussion section.

Where statistical analyses were performed, measures of variability need to be presented as well as errors for predicted and measured values in the models used.

Line 133 Which statistical package was used for the correlation analyses?

Lines 234-242  Field attributes could be placed in a table to describe the locations/countries for easier reading and comparison. Same applies for Lines 255-264. 

Line 239 Present means with standard dev. since that was mentioned as calculated in the method. Adjust throughout results section.

Line 251 Were 96 or 87 locations assessed in Uganda?

Good use of the English language.

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Reviewer #1: Yes: Leonel Domingos Moiana

Reviewer #2: No

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Attachments

Attachment

Submitted filename: review comments and suggestions.doc

Attachment

Submitted filename: MapSPAM and Cassava Map reviewers notes.docx

Validating a cassava production spatial disaggregation model in sub-Saharan Africa

PONE-D-24-03273R1

Dear Dr. Alonso Chavez,

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.

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Kind regards,

Angela T. Alleyne, Ph.D

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

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