Texas A&M UniversityDepartment of Soil and Crop Sciences · Weed Science
Sougata Roy

Sougata Roy

Ph.D. Student in Agronomy (Weed Science) · Graduate Research Assistant

I develop and test weed control that doesn't rely on herbicides: electricity, flame and precision cultivation for organic sorghum and cotton, judged on efficacy, profit and carbon cost together.

6journal articles13book chapters5awards since 2023

About

Howdy, I'm Sougata.

I'm a Ph.D. student in Agronomy (Weed Science) at Texas A&M University, advised by Dr. Muthukumar Bagavathiannan. My research is funded by USDA-NIFA through the project Precision and Ecological Strategies for Integrated Weed Management in Organic Grain and Forage Sorghum Systems of Texas.

Before Texas A&M, I was a Senior Research Associate (Agronomist) with the International Potato Center (CIP-CGIAR) in India, managing the GIZ-funded zero-tillage potato with rice-straw mulch project across India and Bangladesh. I earned my M.Sc. in Agronomy at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, as an ICAR Junior Research Fellow, studying integrated weed management in conservation-agriculture maize.

My goal is to give growers practical, low-carbon weed management options through research, teaching and extension.

Sougata Roy holding a potted weed seedling in a greenhouse
In the greenhouse with weed seedlings

Research

What I work on

My Ph.D. asks a practical question: can growers control weeds in organic sorghum and cotton without herbicides? I test three physical tools in Texas fields, alone and in combination, and judge them on weed control, crop safety, cost and carbon footprint.

Crops
Organic grain sorghum, cotton
Tools
Electricity, flame, cultivation
Where
Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station
Funding
USDA-NIFA

Electrical

Electrical weed control

A tractor-mounted Zasso unit sends current through weeds. I study what makes it work: soil moisture, weed growth stage and conductive liquid pre-sprays, plus its use with roller-crimping to end cover crops.

Thermal

Flaming

Short bursts of flame kill small weeds by heat. I test flaming alone and alongside electrical weeding as part of a non-chemical weed management program.

Mechanical

Mechanical cultivation

Tractor-mounted cultivators remove weeds between crop rows. I combine cultivation with electricity and flame to cover the whole field without herbicides.

Inspecting open cotton bolls in a field

USDA-NIFA project

Integrated weed management in organic sorghum and cotton

Cover crops, mulches, tillage and allelopathic hybrids in multi-location, multi-season organic trials, with surveys of weed flora, soil health and varietal performance.

Standing in a wheat field at sunset

ICAR-IARI and CIP, India

Conservation agriculture, energy and carbon

Weed management, energy-use efficiency and carbon footprint in conservation agriculture, from tembotrione and brown manuring in maize to zero-till potato with rice-straw mulch.

Publications

Selected work

Bold marks my name. Full record on ResearchGate and ORCID.

Peer-reviewed journal articles

  1. Sanketh, G.D., Shekhawat, K., Rathore, S.S., … Roy, S., … Meena, V.S. (2026). Enhancing productivity, profitability, and energy efficiency in rice–wheat systems through conservation agriculture and precision nitrogen management in the Indo-Gangetic Plains, India. Results in Engineering 32, 112148. DOI
  2. Kumar, V., Shekhawat, K., Rathore, S.S., … Roy, S., … Babu, S. (2025). Optimizing root physiology and soil nutrient balance in rice–wheat sequence using polyhalite for enhanced profitability in the Indo-Gangetic plains of India. Scientific Reports 15(1). DOI
  3. Roy, S., Shekhawat, K., Rathore, S.S., Sanketh, G.D., & Kumar, V. (2024). Brown manuring in conservation agriculture based maize-wheat-greengram cropping system: Effects on weed flora, crop yield, and profitability of maize. Indian Journal of Weed Science 56(3), 266–273. DOI
  4. Roy, S., Shekhawat, K., Rathore, S.S., Sanketh, G.D., & Kumar, V. (2024). Selectivity of new generation herbicide 'Tembotrione' under conservation agriculture-based maize (Zea mays) in maize-wheat-mungbean cropping system. Indian Journal of Agronomy 69(3), 283–291. ISA Best Paper 2024 DOI
  5. Roy, S., Rathour, S.K., Mehta, A., Dwivedi, R., Surabhi, & Pandey, A. (2024). Precision water management for resource conservation in India's dryland agriculture: Strategies and technologies. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change 14(8), 464–480. DOI
  6. Debangshi, U., Sadhukhan, A., Dutta, D., & Roy, S. (2023). Application of smart farming technologies in sustainable agriculture development: A comprehensive review on present status and future advancements. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change 13(11), 3689–3704. DOI

Under review

  1. Roy, S., Shekhawat, K., Rathore, S.S., Sanketh, G.D., & Kumar, V. Climate-smart agriculture practices influence weed flora, carbon footprint and energetics in maize of the western Indo-Gangetic Plains.
Book chapters (13)
  1. Bag, S., Yami, B., Roy, S., et al. (2026). Biological approaches to water remediation. In Water Remediation Techniques and Strategies, 59–89. Springer Nature. DOI
  2. Kumar, V., Gairola, A., Kumar, S., Roy, S., & Sharma, D. (2026). Advancing agroforestry for ecosystem resilience: Pioneering a path towards sustainable endurance. In Green Horizons, 587–616. Springer Nature. DOI
  3. Roy, S., Bag, S., Saha, P., et al. (2025). Role of mycorrhiza and its application to crop production: A path ahead for sustainable agriculture. In Sustainable Mycorrhizal Cultivation, 97–122. Springer Nature. DOI
  4. Dadhich, D.K., Roy, S., Patidar, A., et al. (2025). Effect of long-term organic farming on soil physico-chemical and biological properties. In Organic Agriculture for Future Sustainability, 33–58. Leaves and Dew. DOI
  5. Barman, A., Roy, S., Dutta, S., et al. (2025). Impacts of elevated carbon dioxide and temperature on weed growth and physiological responses. In Climate Change, 97–112. CRC Press. DOI
  6. Gorain, S., Dutta, S., & Roy, S. (2025). Supply chain optimization in agribusiness with artificial intelligence. In Smart Farming, Smarter Solutions, 197–221. CRC Press. DOI
  7. Tater, A., Meena, S., Barman, A., Roy, J., Roy, S., & Dutta, S. (2025). Low-cost arsenic removal using different biological routes. In Arsenic Removal Technologies, 151–166. Springer Nature. DOI
  8. Roy, S., Dutta, S., Barman, T., et al. (2025). Methane emission from paddy fields: Role in climate change and possible mitigation strategies. In Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture, 417–446. Springer Nature. DOI
  9. Roy, S., Rathour, S.K., Mehta, A., et al. (2025). Precision water management under dryland region: Climate-resilient strategies. In Climate-Smart Agricultural Technologies, 137–159. Springer Nature. DOI
  10. Roy, S., Bag, S., Dadhich, D.K., Das, T., & Dutta, S. (2025). System approaches for enhancing soil health and food security. In Ecological Solutions to Agricultural Land Degradation, 173–202. Springer Nature. DOI
  11. Saha, P., Roy, S., Satapathy, S., et al. (2025). Soil carbon sequestration potential in achieving the land degradation neutrality (LDN). In Ecological Solutions to Agricultural Land Degradation, 235–263. Springer Nature. DOI
  12. Barman, A., Roy, S., Saha, P., et al. (2024). Sustainable management and diversification of problematic wastes: Prospects and challenges. In Biochar Production for Green Economy, 57–79. Elsevier. DOI
  13. Saha, P., Gunturi, A., Barman, A., Patel, S., Roy, S., et al. (2024). Agroforestry: An eco-friendly strategy for reducing and adapting to climate change. In Agroforestry Solutions for Climate Change and Environmental Restoration, 261–279. Springer Nature. DOI
Popular and extension articles (5)
  1. Dadhich, D.K., Yadav, R., Roy, S., & Krishna (2024). Smart fields: Sustainable farming through IoT. Agri Journal World 4(9), 11–12. Link
  2. Roy, S., Barman, A., & Saha, P. (2023). Diminishing rice productivity in North Bengal's flood-prone region: Impact of sediment deposition on rice. Food and Scientific Reports 4(10), 41–42. Link
  3. Roy, S., & Poddar, S. (2022). Effect of terminal heat stress in wheat: An overview. Zenodo. DOI
  4. Poddar, S., & Roy, S. (2022). Status of resistance against spot blotch in wheat. Zenodo. DOI
  5. Poddar, S., & Roy, S. (2022). Response and breeding of wheat under drought stress. Zenodo. DOI

Talks & awards

Presentations and recognition

Being interviewed on camera beside a research poster
Interview at the Global Sorghum Conference, Lubbock
Speaking to a group beside farm equipment
Talking with growers and colleagues

Honors and awards

  • Oct 2026

    1st Prize, Oral Presentation

    Tri-Societies (CANVAS) Meeting Preparation Symposium, Dept. of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M

  • Sep 2026

    3rd Prize, Oral Presentation Competition

    Sorghum Improvement Conference of North America (SICNA), Global Sorghum Conference, Lubbock, TX

  • Aug 2026

    Student of the Semester, Summer 2026

    Bagavathiannan Weed Science Lab, Texas A&M, for exemplary character and outstanding teamwork

  • 2024

    Best Paper Award

    Indian Society of Agronomy, for tembotrione selectivity in conservation-agriculture maize

  • 2023

    1st Prize, Poster Presentation

    6th International Conference, Crop and Weed Science Society, Kolkata

  • 2023

    ICAR Senior Research Fellowship (Ph.D.) and ASRB-NET, Agronomy

    Indian Council of Agricultural Research; Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board

  • 2021–23

    ICAR Junior Research Fellowship (M.Sc.), All India Rank 5

    Indian Council of Agricultural Research

Upcoming

  • Feb 2027

    Can a conductive liquid pre-spray make electrical weed control more effective?

    WSSA Annual Meeting, Denver, CO · Single Slide Talk. Also a poster on electricity, flame and tillage in Texas cotton.

  • Jan 2027

    Integrating electrical, thermal and mechanical tactics for inter- and intra-row weed management in the cotton–sorghum system

    SWSS Annual Meeting, Corpus Christi, TX · Graduate student oral contest. Plus a poster on soil moisture and EWC efficacy.

  • Nov 2026

    Integrating electrical, thermal and mechanical tactics for inter- and intra-row weed management in organic grain sorghum in Texas

    ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting (CANVAS 2026), Portland, OR · Ph.D. oral competition, plus posters on soil moisture and EWC efficacy, and EWC with roller-crimping for cover crop termination.

Recent talks

  • Oct 2026

    Weeding in organic sorghum without herbicides

    Texas Weed Information Group (TWIG), Texas A&M AgriLife Extension · Extension talk

  • Oct 2026

    Electricity, flame, and tillage: Can non-chemical tactics replace herbicides in Texas cotton?

    Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M · 1st prize

  • Sep 2026

    Integrating electrical, thermal and mechanical techniques for inter- and intra-row weed management in organic grain sorghum

    Global Sorghum Conference / SICNA, Lubbock, TX · 3rd prize. Also a poster on weed seed viability after EWC.

  • Jul 2025

    Scaling low-emission, climate-smart rice cultivation in South and Southeast Asia

    Mekong Forum 2025, Mekong Institute, Phnom Penh, Cambodia · Invited panelist and speaker

  • Mar 2024

    Digital tools for agronomic data collection and carbon footprint analysis

    International Potato Center, Dhaka and Khulna, Bangladesh · Trainer

  • 2023

    Tembotrione for integrated weed management in conservation-agriculture maize

    Posters at CWSS (Kolkata, 1st prize), ISA Symposium (Goa) and ICAR-VPKAS (online)

Teaching

Teaching and mentoring

Teaching assistant, Texas A&M

  • Fall 2026

    SCSC 446: Weed Ecology and Biology

  • Sum 2026

    SCSC 649: Weed Judging

  • Spr 2026

    SCSC 653: Weed Identification

Guest lectures and training

  • Fall 2026

    SCSC 402 guest lectures

    Parasitic weed management; herbicide modes of action, with lab

  • 2025

    Academy for Future Faculty Fellow

    Center for Teaching Excellence, Texas A&M

  • 2023–25

    Training and mentoring at CIP

    Trained scientists in Bangladesh; mentored junior project staff

Student demonstrations for coursework
Holding the Academy for Future Faculty certificate
Academy for Future Faculty certificate
Academy for Future Faculty certificate celebration group photo
AFF certificate celebration, Texas A&M

Experience & education

Path so far

Professional memberships

Extension and outreach

Extension talks

  • Oct 2026

    Weeding in organic sorghum without herbicides

    Texas Weed Information Group (TWIG), Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, for extension specialists, county agents, crop consultants and growers

  • Jul 2025

    Mekong Forum 2025, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

    Shared climate-smart, low-emission rice practices with regional experts and policymakers

  • 2020–21

    Rural Agricultural Work Experience, UBKV

    Village surveys, farmer engagement and on-farm demonstrations of SRI and conservation agriculture

Extension talk
Audience of extension specialists and growers listening to a talk
Extension audience: specialists, county agents and growers
Explaining weed control equipment mounted on a tractor
Explaining weed control equipment at a field day

Field days and demonstrations

At field days I show growers, consultants and colleagues how electrical, thermal and mechanical weed control tools work in real fields, alongside other precision tools such as spray drones.

Field day demonstration

MOA 4 WEED: research, told as stories

MOA stands for Mode of Action. On my MOA 4 WEED blog, I retell my papers and book chapters as short, plain-language stories for students, farmers and young agronomists.

Read all stories →

Soil and nutrientsThe hidden fungal network that feeds your cropsMost land plants team up with soil fungi. Here is why farmers should care, and how fertilizer can break that partnership.Read story →ClimateWhy flooded rice fields breathe out methane, and how to cut itRice paddies are a major source of a powerful greenhouse gas. The fixes start with water.Read story →Weed scienceZero-till maize, a Sesbania partner, and one new herbicideHow we kept weeds out of conservation-agriculture maize and matched the yield of a weed-free field.Read story →

Contact

Get in touch

I'm happy to talk about collaborations, non-chemical weed control, or graduate study in weed science.

Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
Heep Center, Room 222
370 Olsen Blvd, Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-2474

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