Specific commentsLine 168 How did you calculate the standard deviations of the T index? From the standard deviations of the phytolith concentrations in each horizon? Line 227 Please mention the reference showing the meteorological data (MAP).Fig. 1 Name of each of the sampling sites should be given. Fig. 4 Two dotted lines have been drawn to divide the soil types. One of the lines should be deleted.Fig. 5 The lines connecting dots are unnecessary. Just averages (points) and standard deviations (error bars) should be given in this figure. The position of the dotted lines dividing soil types should be moved not to overlap the points. Fig. 6 For principle component analysis, multiple variables are needed; phytolith transport rates and…, what are other variables? T indexes in each phytolith morpho types?Fig. 8 Some of the name of the sampling sites are lacked. I recommend that soil type at each sampling site should be given in the figure. The lines connecting points indicating the values of the T index are unnecessary.Fig. 9 Instead of this figure, the figure showing the T indexes on the horizonal axis and the soil available Si or soil clay content on the lateral axis, should be provided. I believe that their standardization is unnecessary.