Meetpal Kukal

Meetpal Kukal is an Assistant Professor of Hydrologic Science & Water Management at the University of Idaho, based in the Department of Soil and Water Systems within the College of Agricultural & Life Sciences. His work integrates principles from water science, biometeorology, and geospatial analysis to address agricultural water management under climate change. He holds a Ph.D. (2019), M.S. (2015), and B.Tech. (2013) in agricultural sciences from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Punjab Agricultural University.

His research focuses on agricultural hydrology, evapotranspiration dynamics, and irrigation management, with emphasis on how global change factors impact crop-water relationships. He employs both field measurements (proximal and remote sensing) and data-driven modeling to predict crop responses to environmental stressors. Notable contributions include studies on evaporative demand hotspots in U.S. croplands and the buffering role of soil water capacity in mitigating drought impacts.

Awards include the ASABE Superior Paper Award, Folsom Distinguished Dissertation Award, and University of Nebraska Outstanding Graduate Research Award. As a Principal Investigator (PI), he leads USDA-NIFA and NRCS projects on climate-smart agricultural practices. His teaching spans courses like WR 604: CUAHSI Virtual University and ASM 315: Irrigation Systems.

Meetpal’s work bridges applied research and outreach, aiming to improve water security and agricultural profitability. His lab collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to develop scalable solutions for sustainable water use in agroecosystems.