Dear authors,

Your manuscript has been thoroughly reviewed by two peer experts in the field. Both consider your manuscript as useful and valuable at least in parts. Since it is a review, a certain degree of comprehensiveness is expected and has not been achieved yet with several global soil datasets not being included as pointed out by both reviewers.

A systematic approach is required with criteria to be defined for the selection or exclusion of maps in this review. If the focus of the paper is on global soil maps also Table 1 maybe revised to start with the soil maps and not with the ESMs.

I also suggest to include more aspects of the quality of the maps as proposed by the first reviewer in order to evaluate (e.g. with global or latitudinal means) and where possible to compare the maps.

I am looking forward to a new version of your paper which will be reconsidered after major revisions.

Best regards,
Axel Don

Dear authors,

The reviewer and I acknowledge the improvements in the revised version of your manuscript. The reviewer recommended some minor changes that I ask you to consider in a revised version.

I am looking forward to a revised version of your manuscript
Best regards,
Axel Don

Dear authors,
Thank you for the thorough revised version of your paper. In particular the language improved and the paper is ready to be published in SOIL.
Please follow the instructions that will be sent to you by the publisher for the final version of the paper.
Best regards,
Axel Don

Dear authors, it is a pleasure for me to let you know that your manuscript has been accepted for publication in SOIL.

Many thanks for consider SOIL for your publication.

Best wishes

Jorge