About

Debalin Sarangi is an Assistant Professor and Extension Weed Scientist at the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics at the University of Minnesota. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2016 and was appointed to his current position in 2020. His research focuses on applied weed science, herbicide resistance, weed ecology, and management. The major goal of his research program is to understand the evolutionary biology of weeds and develop integrated weed management strategies that protect water quality, enhance crop productivity, and improve economic returns. He takes a collaborative research approach to address weed management challenges. In addition to his research, Sarangi leads an extension program aimed at developing best management practices to reduce the risks of herbicide resistance evolution in weeds. His extension efforts are informed by stakeholder needs and are committed to providing timely, science-based educational materials to Minnesota growers, consultants, and agricultural industry partners. His work has contributed to understanding weed species dynamics, seed rain potential, resistance mechanisms, and control strategies, with a focus on herbicide-resistant weeds and sustainable weed management practices.

Research topics

• Agronomy
• Biology
• Environmental science
• Horticulture
• Botany

Selected publications

• Weather and glufosinate efficacy: a retrospective analysis looking forward to the changing climate

  Weed Science · 2025-01-01 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Foliar-applied postemergence applications of glufosinate are often applied to glufosinate-resistant crops to provide nonselective weed control without significant crop injury. Rainfall, air temperature, solar radiation, and relative humidity near the time of application have been reported to affect glufosinate efficacy. However, previous research may have not captured the full range of weather variability to which glufosinate may be exposed before or following application. Additionally, climate models suggest more extreme weather will become the norm, further expanding the weather range to which glufosinate can be exposed. The objective of this research was to quantify the probability of successful weed control (efficacy ≥85%) with glufosinate applied to some key weed species across a broad range of weather conditions. A database of >10,000 North American herbicide evaluation trials was used in this study. The database was filtered to include treatments with a single postemergence application of glufosinate applied to waterhemp [ Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) Sauer], morningglory species ( Ipomoea spp.), and/or giant foxtail ( Setaria faberi Herrm.) <15 cm in height. These species were chosen because they are well represented in the database and listed as common and troublesome weed species in both corn ( Zea mays L.) and soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] (Van Wychen 2020, 2022). Individual random forest models were created. Low rainfall (≤20 mm) over the 5 d before glufosinate application was detrimental to the probability of successful control of A. tuberculatus and S. faberi . Lower relative humidity (≤70%) and solar radiation (≤23 MJ m −1 d −1 ) on the day of application reduced the probability of successful weed control in most cases. Additionally, the probability of successful control decreased for all species when average air temperature over the first 5 d after application was ≤25 C. As climate continues to change and become more variable, the risk of unacceptable control of several common species with glufosinate is likely to increase.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Dicamba-based preemergence herbicide tank mixtures improved residual weed control in dicamba-resistant soybean

  Frontiers in Agronomy · 2025-04-09 · 4 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  In February 2024, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) vacated the registrations of dicamba products for over-the-top applications on dicamba-resistant cotton and soybean following a court ruling. This decision has raised significant concerns among United States farmers, who now have limited chemical options to manage tough-to-control weeds. However, the risk of off-target dicamba movement to sensitive plants remains a critical issue. If permitted in the future, applying dicamba as a preemergence (PRE) treatment, tank-mixed with other soil residual herbicides, could help reduce off-target movement while preserving its utility for managing problem weeds. Field experiments were conducted in 2022 and 2023 in Minnesota and North Dakota, and in 2021 and 2022 in Wisconsin, to evaluate the effectiveness of dicamba-based PRE herbicide mixtures in soybean. Across all site-years, dicamba tank mixed with other soil residual herbicides provided better control of targeted weed species at 21 d after treatment (DAT) compared to applying the residual herbicides alone. In Minnesota, dicamba-based herbicide tank mixes provided an average waterhemp control of 72%, compared to 59% for treatments without dicamba at 21 DAT. Similarly, in North Dakota, waterhemp control at 21 DAT improved from 74% with residual herbicides alone to 97% when tank mixed with dicamba. In Wisconsin, dicamba-based tank mixes resulted in 96% control of common ragweed and 83% of velvetleaf, versus 83% and 73% for those species, respectively, without dicamba. At the Minnesota site, adding dicamba to residual herbicides improved common lambsquarters and giant ragweed control by 17% and 20%, respectively, and their densities were reduced by at least 50%. At the North Dakota site, kochia control was improved by 23% with dicamba PRE. The results from this research outlined the effectiveness of PRE application of dicamba tank mixed with other residual herbicides for effective weed management in the Upper Midwest.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Seasonal nonstructural carbohydrates in the crowns and rhizomes of in situ populations of Japanese knotweed (<i>Polygonum cuspidatum</i>) and the hybrid Bohemian knotweed (<i>Polygonum</i> ×<i>bohemicum</i>)

  Weed Science · 2025-01-01

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Herbaceous perennials must annually rebuild the aboveground photosynthetic architecture from carbohydrates stored in crowns, rhizomes, and roots. Knowledge of carbohydrate utilization and storage can inform management decisions and improve control outcomes for invasive perennials. We monitored the nonstructural carbohydrates in a population of the hybrid Bohemian knotweed [ Polygonum × bohemicum (J. Chrtek &amp; Chrtková) Zika &amp; Jacobson [ cuspidatum × sachalinense ]; syn.: Fallopia × bohemica (Chrtek and Chrtková) J.P. Bailey] and in Japanese knotweed [ Polygonum cuspidatum Siebold &amp; Zucc.; syn.: Fallopia japonica (Houtt.) Ronse Decr.]. Carbohydrate storage in crowns followed seasonal patterns typical of perennial herbaceous dicots corresponding to key phenological events. Starch was consistently the highest nonstructural carbohydrate present. Sucrose levels did not show a consistent inverse relationship with starch levels. Lateral distribution of starch in rhizomes and, more broadly, total nonstructural carbohydrates sampled before dormancy break showed higher levels in rhizomes compared with crowns. Total nonstructural carbohydrate levels in crowns reached seasonal lows at an estimated 22.6% of crown dry weight after accumulating 1,453.8 growing degree days (GDD) by the end of June, mainly due to depleted levels of stored starch, with the estimated minimum of 12.3% reached by 1,220.3 GDD accumulated by mid-June. Depletion corresponded to rapid development of vegetative canopy before entering the reproductive phase in August. Maximum starch accumulation in crowns followed complete senescence of aboveground tissues by mid- to late October. Removal of aboveground shoot biomass in late June to early July with removal of vegetation regrowth in early September before senescence would optimize the use of time and labor to deplete carbohydrate reserves. Additionally, foliar-applied systemic herbicide translocation to belowground tissue should be maximized with applications in late August through early fall to optimize downward translocation with assimilate movement to rebuild underground storage reserves. Fall applications should be made before loss of healthy leaf tissue, with the window for control typically ending by late September in Minnesota.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Effect of herbicide application timing and sequence on waterhemp (<i>Amaranthus tuberculatus</i>) and common lambsquarters (<i>Chenopodium album</i>) control, Enlist E3® soybean yield, and economic returns

  Weed Technology · 2025-01-01 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Enlist E3® soybean is resistant to 2,4-D, glyphosate, and glufosinate, allowing postemergence applications of these herbicides sequentially or as tank mixes. The objectives of this experiment were to evaluate the effect of postemergence herbicide application timing and sequence with or without a preemergence application of micro-encapsulated acetochlor on waterhemp and common lambsquarters control, soybean yield, and economic returns. Field experiments were conducted in Rosemount and Franklin, Minnesota, in 2021 and 2022. Site, herbicide application timing, and sequence influenced weed control, yield, and profitability. In Rosemount, preemergence followed by (fb) two-pass postemergence programs, including 2,4-D + glyphosate applied at mid-postemergence with or without S -metolachlor, resulted in ≥95% waterhemp control at 28 d after late postemergence application. In Franklin, where weed density was lower, two-pass postemergence programs, regardless of preemergence application that included at least one application of 2,4-D + glyphosate (with or without S -metolachlor), provided ≥97% control of waterhemp and common lambsquarters at 28 d after late postemergence. The level of control was comparable to that of a preemergence herbicide fb a mid-postemergence application of 2,4-D + glyphosate + S -metolachlor at that site. In Rosemount, including acetochlor as the preemergence herbicide in the preemergence fb postemergence programs improved soybean yield by 32% and partial returns by US$384.50 ha −1 compared to postemergence herbicides–only programs. In contrast, the preemergence application did not affect yield or profitability in Franklin. The highest soybean yield (2,925.7 kg ha −1 ) in Rosemount resulted after glufosinate was applied early postemergence fb 2,4-D + glyphosate applied mid-postemergence. This yield was comparable to that of glufosinate applied early postemergence fb 2,4-D + glyphosate + S -metolachlor applied mid-postemergence and the two-pass glufosinate (early postemergence fb mid-postemergence) program, highlighting the importance of early season weed control. In Franklin, 2,4-D + glyphosate + S -metolachlor (applied mid-postemergence) fb glufosinate (applied late postemergence) provided a yield that was similar to the aforementioned programs at that site.

  PublisherDOI

• Can black soldier fly ( <i>Hermetia illucens</i> ) larvae affect germination of Palmer amaranth ( <i>Amaranthus palmeri</i> ) seeds in dairy manure?

  Agrosystems Geosciences & Environment · 2025-09-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Palmer amaranth ( Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson) is classified as a noxious weed in Minnesota, necessitating its eradication within the state. Manure from livestock fed contaminated feed was identified as a major pathway for the introduction of Palmer amaranth in Minnesota. Black soldier fly larvae ( Hermetia illucens L.) (BSFL) are known to feed on organic materials and have been extensively studied for improving manure management. However, little is known about their effect on the fate of weed seeds. Laboratory experiments assessed the effect of BSFL on the fate of Palmer amaranth seeds in dairy manure over a 10‐day incubation period. The addition of BSFL during incubation reduced manure weight by 42% compared to a nontreated control. The presence of Palmer amaranth seeds in dairy manure did not impact the biomass accumulation of BSFL during incubation. Palmer amaranth seed recovery from dairy manure was 67%, with no additional reduction observed in the presence of BSFL. Germination of recovered Palmer amaranth seeds dropped to 22% in manure treatments, compared to 64% in a non‐manure control seed lot, with no further reduction noted with the addition of BSFL. Overall, mixing Palmer amaranth seeds in manure reduced their emergence to 14%, which could be attributed to the reduction in both seed recovery and germination. However, the addition of BSFL to manure did not affect the number of seeds recovered or their germination.

  PublisherDOI

• A system approach for waterhemp ( <i>Amaranthus tuberculatus</i> ) management in soybean–sugar beet rotation

  Weed Technology · 2025-01-01

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Abstract Effective waterhemp management in crop rotations that include sugar beet requires a proactive approach, starting with robust weed management in the preceding crop. Sugar beet is vulnerable to weeds due to its poor competitiveness during its early growth stages and a limited availability of effective herbicide options within this rotation. This research aimed to evaluate multi-tactic weed management strategies, including planting soybean in narrow rows with low- and high-input treatments, and a high-input treatment plus harvest-time weed seed control (HWSC) simulation, on waterhemp control and seed production in soybean, and their effects on waterhemp density in the following sugar beet crop. Field experiments were conducted from 2021 to 2023 in Franklin, Moorhead, and Rosemount, Minnesota. Soybean planted in narrow rows closed the canopy earlier at Franklin in 2021 and at Moorhead in 2022. Soybean row spacing did not affect waterhemp control, density, biomass, or seed production at any site-year. A high-input treatment consisting of flumioxazin applied preemergence followed by (fb) an early postemergence application of lactofen + acetochlor fb a late-postemergence application of 2,4-D + glyphosate provided ≥95% waterhemp control at harvest at all site-years and seed production was reduced to 0 seeds m −2 at Franklin and Rosemount. At those locations, waterhemp control at harvest was comparable among all high-input herbicide treatments. Soybean planted in narrow rows yielded 9.4% and 18.5% more than soybean planted in wide rows at Franklin and Rosemount, respectively, while no yield difference was observed at Moorhead. Waterhemp emergence in the subsequent season’s sugar beet crop fell by 72% to 92% at the Franklin site in 2022, Moorhead in 2023, and Rosemount in 2023 after high-input herbicide treatments. However, adding HWSC to a high-input treatment did not result in a further reduction of waterhemp density. In this research, 1 yr of effective waterhemp control with high-input herbicide treatments in soybean reduced waterhemp emergence in the following season’s sugar beet crop.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase)-inhibiting herbicides: Past, present, and future

  Weed Technology · 2025-12-17 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase)-inhibiting herbicides are primarily applied for controlling grass weeds in broadleaf crops. These herbicides are foliar-active, providing minimal residual weed control. This review aims to summarize 1) the history and use of ACCase-inhibiting herbicides in the United States; 2) ACCase-inhibitor-resistant weeds, their mechanisms of resistance, and management strategies; and 3) the future of ACCase-inhibiting herbicides. Herbicides that inhibit ACCase belong to three chemical families: aryloxyphenoxypropionates, cyclohexanediones, and phenylpyrazoles. They function by inhibiting the enzyme ACCase activity, thereby blocking the first step in de novo fatty acid biosynthesis and thus preventing the production of phospholipids and essential secondary metabolites in susceptible plants. Diclofop-methyl was the first ACCase inhibitor discovered in 1975, and commercialized in 1982 in the United States. Pinoxaden was the last herbicide to be commercialized in 2005. As of 2025, a total of 51 grass weed species have been documented as being resistant to ACCase-inhibiting herbicides worldwide, including 16 in the United States. The resistance in these weeds is attributed to both target-site and non–target site mechanisms. Mixing ACCase-inhibiting herbicides with auxinic herbicides can reduce grass weed control due to antagonistic interactions. Therefore, selecting an appropriate tank-mix partner with an ACCase inhibitor is crucial for achieving broad-spectrum weed control, or a dual-tank precision sprayer could be used. Clethodim is the most widely used ACCase-inhibiting herbicide, with 920,339 kg applied to approximately 16% of soybean crops planted in the United States in 2023, at an average application rate of 179 g ha ‒1 . A recent discovery, metproxybicyclone, will be the first carbocyclic aryl-dione herbicide from a new ACCase inhibitor family. This novel herbicide will be applied postemergence to control sensitive and ACCase inhibitor-resistant grass weeds in broadleaf crops. Continued research efforts are focused on discovering new ACCase-inhibiting herbicides capable of controlling ACCase inhibitor-resistant grass weeds.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Profile and extent of herbicide-resistant waterhemp (<i>Amaranthus tuberculatus</i>) in Minnesota

  Weed Science · 2024-10-22 · 4 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Abstract Information regarding the prevalence and distribution of herbicide-resistant waterhemp [ Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) Sauer] in Minnesota is limited. Whole-plant bioassays were conducted in the greenhouse on 90 A. tuberculatus populations collected from 47 counties in Minnesota. Eight postemergence herbicides, 2,4-D, atrazine, dicamba, fomesafen, glufosinate, glyphosate, imazamox, and mesotrione, were applied at 1× and 3× the labeled doses. Based on their responses, populations were classified into highly resistant (≥40 % survival at 3× the labeled dose), moderately resistant (&lt;40% survival at 3× the labeled dose but ≥40% survival at 1× the labeled dose), less sensitive (10% to 39% survival at 1× the labeled dose), and susceptible (&lt;10% survival at 1× the labeled dose) categories. All 90 populations were resistant to imazamox, while 89% were resistant to glyphosate. Atrazine, fomesafen, and mesotrione resistance was observed in 47%, 31%, and 22% of all populations, respectively. Ten percent of the populations were resistant to 2,4-D, and 2 of 90 populations exhibited &gt;40% survival following dicamba application at the labeled dose. No population was confirmed to be resistant to glufosinate. However, 22% of all populations were classified as less sensitive to glufosinate. Eighty-two populations were found to be multiple-herbicide resistant. Among these, 15 populations exhibited resistance to four different herbicide sites of action (SOAs); 7 and 4 populations were resistant to five and six SOAs, respectively. All six-way-resistant populations were from southwest Minnesota. Two populations, one from Lincoln County and the other from Lyon County, were resistant to 2,4-D, atrazine, dicamba, fomesafen, glyphosate, imazamox, and mesotrione, leaving only glufosinate as a postemergence control option for these populations in corn ( Zea mays L.) and soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Diversified management tactics, including nonchemical control measures along with herbicide applications from effective SOAs, should be implemented to slow down the evolution and spread of herbicide-resistant A. tuberculatus populations.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Ecological weed management and square planting influenced the weed management, and crop productivity in direct-seeded rice

  Scientific Reports · 2024-05-06 · 8 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Herbicide use may pose a risk of environmental pollution or evolution of resistant weeds. As a result, an experiment was carried out to assess the influence of different non-chemical weed management tactics (one hoeing (HH) at 12 DAS followed by ( fb ) one hand weeding at 30 DAS, one HH at 12 DAS fb Sesbania co-culture and its mulching, one HH at 12 DAS fb rice straw mulching @ 4t ha −1 , one HH at 12 DAS fb rice straw mulching @ 6 t ha −1 ) on weed control, crop growth and yield, and economic returns in direct-seeded rice (DSR). Experiment was conducted during kharif season in a split-plot design and replicated thrice. Zero-till seed drill-sown crop (PN) had the lowest weed density at 25 days after sowing (DAS), while square planting geometry (PS) had the lowest weed density at 60 DAS. PS also resulted in a lower weed management index (WMI), agronomic management index (AMI), and integrated weed management index (IWMI), as well as higher growth attributes, grain yield (4.19 t ha –1 ), and net return (620.98 US$ ha –1 ). The cultivar Arize 6444 significantly reduced weed density and recorded higher growth attributes, yield, and economic return. In the case of weed management treatments, one HH at 12 DAS fb Sesbania co-culture and its mulching had the lowest weed density, Shannon-weinner index and eveness at 25 DAS. However, one hoeing at 12 DAS fb one hand weeding at 30 DAS (HH + WH) achieved the highest grain yield (4.85 t ha –1 ) and net returns (851.03 US$ ha –1 ) as well as the lowest weed density at 60 DAS. PS × HH + WH treatment combination had the lowest weed persistent index (WPI), WMI, AMI, and IWMI, and the highest growth attributes, production efficiency, and economic return.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Searching for consistent postemergence weed control in progressively inconsistent weather

  Weed Science · 2024-11-18 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Foliar-applied postemergence herbicides are a critical component of corn ( Zea mays L.) and soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] weed management programs in North America. Rainfall and air temperature around the time of application may affect the efficacy of herbicides applied postemergence in corn or soybean production fields. However, previous research utilized a limited number of site-years and may not capture the range of rainfall and air temperatures that these herbicides are exposed to throughout North America. The objective of this research was to model the probability of achieving successful weed control (≥85%) with commonly applied postemergence herbicides across a broad range of environments. A large database of more than 10,000 individual herbicide evaluation field trials conducted throughout North America was used in this study. The database was filtered to include only trials with a single postemergence application of fomesafen, glyphosate, mesotrione, or fomesafen + glyphosate. Waterhemp [ Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) Sauer], morningglory species ( Ipomoea spp.), and giant foxtail ( Setaria faberi Herrm.) were the weeds of focus. Separate random forest models were created for each weed species by herbicide combination. The probability of successful weed control deteriorated when the average air temperature within the first 10 d after application was &lt;19 or &gt;25 C for most of the herbicide by weed species models. Additionally, drier conditions before postemergence herbicide application reduced the probability of successful control for several of the herbicide by weed species models. As air temperatures increase and rainfall becomes more variable, weed control with many of the commonly used postemergence herbicides is likely to become less reliable.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Amit J. Jhala

  University of Nebraska–Lincoln

  20 shared

• Prabhu Govindasamy

  Indian Agricultural Research Institute

  15 shared

• Suat Irmak

  Pennsylvania State University

  7 shared

• Muthukumar Bagavathiannan

  Texas A&M University

  7 shared

• M. Chourasia

  Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ghatkhed Amravati

  5 shared

• Sujata Sethy

  5 shared

• Stevan Z. Knezevic

  University of Nebraska–Lincoln

  4 shared

• John L. Lindquist

  University of Nebraska–Lincoln

  4 shared

Education

• Postdoctoral Research Associate, Soil & Crop Sciences

  Texas A&M University

  2019

• Postdoctoral Research Associate, Agronomy & Horticulture

  University of Nebraska-Lincoln

  2017

• Ph.D., Agronomy and Horticulture

  University of Nebraska-Lincoln

  2016

• M.Sc., Agronomy

  Punjab Agricultural University

  2012

Awards & honors

• CFANS Borealis Exemplary Faculty Award, 2025
• Outstanding Postdoctoral Researcher Award; Texas A&M Univers…
• ICAR-International Fellowship; Indian Council of Agricultura…
• Graduate Student Ambassador & NRA Fellowship; University of…
• Outstanding Leadership & Service Award; University of Nebras…