Discussion on Dynamics model to simulate water and salt balance of Bosten Lake in Xinjiang, China (Environmental Earth Sciences 2015; 74(3): 2499-2510)

The paper titled Dynamics model to simulate water and salt balance of Bosten Lake in Xinjiang, China'' by Rusuli et al. is discussed. We identified a number of errors in the historical test of the system dynamics (SD) model proposed in the discussed paper and listed the completed principle regarding the historical test. The incomplete nature of the test may cause a deviation in the simulated result, and the conclusions based on the SD model may be incorrect. Thus, the historical test of the SD model must be improved. This discussion will have some reference value and ensure that similar errors are avoided when we analyse problems with system dynamics.