Comment on “Improved Water Savings and Reduction in Moist Heat Stress Caused by Efficient Irrigation” by Anukesh Krishnankutty Ambika and Vimal Mishra

Abstract

Abstract A recent study by Ambika and Mishra (2022, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021EF002642) asserted using simulated evidence that a shift towards drip irrigation from channel irrigation in the Indo‐Gangetic Plains will result in alleviation of moist heat stress and water savings. The assumptions, parameterizations, and approach adopted in this study do not adequately represent fundamentals of irrigation science, management, and engineering, as well as realities of local agricultural water management in the Indo‐Gangetic Plains. This comment attempts to highlight these inadequacies of the paper and related literature, by focusing on four major aspects related to irrigation process, local land‐use, timing of irrigation and moist heat stress, and water accounting. These weaknesses in irrigation processes modeling result in overlooking of indispensable aspects that should be accounted for to comprehensively assess impacts of irrigation method choice on regional weather and water resources.

Keywords

• humid heat stress
• moist heat stress
• microirrigaton
• irrigation efficiency
• evapotranspiration