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Vijay Singh

Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist
  • Weed Science and Precision Agriculture
Vijay Singh
33446 Research Dr.
Painter, VA 32420
v.singh@vt.edu
757-807-6579

Overview

Dr. Singh has research (50%) and extension (50%) responsibilities. His program relies on inter-disciplinary approaches with focus on three major areas; 1) herbicide-resistance, 2) precision weed management, 3) sustainable cropping systems. Dr. Singh’s program provides expertise on weed research and extension in row-crops (corn, soybean, cotton), oilseeds, small grains, and vegetables. His team conducts surveys to document the herbicide-resistant weed species in Virginia and determines the molecular mechanisms responsible for herbicide-resistance. He is also working on digital agriculture and data driven technologies under Virginia Tech's Smart Farming Initiative. His team tests Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)/sensor-based ground vehicles and robots for weed species differentiation, herbicide-resistance detection and spray applications for precision agriculture. Dr. Singh is a part of GROW (Get Rid Of Weeds) network and PSA (Precision Sustainable Agriculture) team that integrate knowledge-intensive agricultural practices to maximize weed control efficiency, farm productivity, and sustainability.

Expertise

  • Weed Ecology & Biology
  • Herbicide-resistance
  • Precision Weed Management

Education

  • Ph.D. Weed Science, University of Arkansas, 2015 
  • M.S. Agronomy, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, 2008
  • B.Sc. Agriculture, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, 2006

Interests

  • Weed physiology pertaining to herbicide-resistance issues and management in general
  • Developing Decision Support Tools (DSTs) and innovative weed management technologies
  • Unmanned Aerial Systems based herbicide applications & robots for mechanical and laser assisted weed control 

Interests

  • Documenting herbicide-resistance issues and investigating integrated weed management approaches
  • Testing and labeling of herbicide products in vegetables and row-crops in Virginia
  • Developing precision weed management tools and digital resources for smart farming
  • Promoting Harvest Weed Seed Control (HWSC) strategies for soil seed bank management
  • Providing trainings and extension services to the growers and other stakeholders in the state
  • PPWS / BCHM 5344: Molecular Biology for the Life Sciences
  • PPWS 5534: Advanced Plant Physiology and Metabolism II

Assistant Professor and Extension Weed Specialist | 2019 – present
Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.

Assistant Research Scientist | 2015-2019
Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
Texas A&M University, Tx.

Graduate Research Assistant | 2011-2015
Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences
University of Arkansas, Ar.

Research Scientist | 2009-2011
International Rice Research Institute, India

  • Outstanding Researcher Award from the Northeastern Weed Science Society, 2024
  • Outstanding Reviewer Award from the Weed Science Society of America, 2024
  • Recipient of Young Scientist Award (2014), International Rice Congress, Thailand, 2014.
  1. Singh, V., A. Maity, S. Abugho, J. Swart, M. Bagavathiannan 2020. Multiple herbicide resistant Lolium spp. is prevalent in wheat production in Texas Blacklands. Weed Technology Online doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/wet.2020.23
  2. Singh, V., R. Garetson, P. A. Dotray, S. A. Nolte, G. Morgan, J. McGinty, M. V. Bagavathiannan. 2019. Distribution of Herbicide Resistant Waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) Across Row Crop Production Systems in Texas. Weed Technology 34:129-139. Online doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/wet.2019.78
  3. Singh, V., A. Rana, M. Bishop, A. Filippi, D. Cope, N. Rajan, M. Bagavathiannan. 2019. Unmanned aircraft systems for precision weed management applications: prospects and challenges. Invited article, Advances in Agronomy 159:93-134. Online doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.agron.2019.08.004
  4. Garetson R., V. Singh, S. Singh, P. Dotray, and M. Bagavathiannan. 2019. Distribution of Herbicide Resistant Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) in Row Crop Production Systems in Texas. Weed Technology 33:355-365. Online doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/wet.2019.14
  5. Singh, V., M. Bagavathiannan, B.S. Chauhan, S. Singh. 2019. Evaluation of current policies on the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Indian Agriculture. Current Science 117:25-29. Online doi: http://doi.org/10.18520/cs/v117/i1/25-29
  6. Abugho, S., N.R. Burgos, V. Singh, L.E. Estorninos Jr, R.A. Salas, D.R. Motes and R.C. Scott. 2019. Response of Edamame Soybean ‘AVS-4002’ to Herbicides. Agronomy Journal 111:1958-1966. Online doi:  https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2018.09.0585
  7. Singh V., J. Masabni, P. Baumann, T. Isakeit, M. Matocha, T. Provin, R. Liu, K. Carson, and M. Bagavathiannan. 2018. Activated charcoal reduces pasture herbicide injury in vegetable crops. Crop Protection 117:1-6. Online doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2018.10.022
  8. Singh S., V. Singh, and A. Lawton-Rauh, M.V. Bagavathiannan, N.R. Burgos. 2018. EPSPS gene amplification primarily confers glyphosate resistance among Arkansas Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) populations. Weed Science 66:293-300. Online doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/wsc.2017.83
  9. Singh S., V. Singh, R.A. Salas‐Perez, M.V. Bagavathiannan, A. Lawton‐Rauh, N. Roma‐Burgos. 2018. Target‐site mutation accumulation among ALS‐inhibitor‐resistant Palmer amaranth. Pest management science. Online doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.5232
  10. Singh S., N.R. Burgos, V. Singh, I. Alcober, R.A. Salas, V. Shivrain. 2018. Differential response of Arkansas Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) to glyphosate and mesotrione. Weed Technology 32:579-585. Online doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/wet.2018.34
  11. Singh, V., S. Singh, H. Black, V. Boyett, S. Basu, D. Gealy, E. Gbur, A. Pereira, R.C. Scott, Ana Caicedo, N.R. Burgos. 2017. Introgression of ClearfieldTM rice crop alleles into weedy red rice populations in Arkansas, USA. Field Crops Research 207:13-23. Online doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2017.03.004
  12. Rouse, C., N. Burgos, V. Singh, L. Earnest. 2017. Evaluation of sweet sorghum planting density and minimal nitrogen input, under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions, for bioethanol feedstock production. Biofuels TBFU. Online doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/17597269.2017.1378992
  13. Singh, V., M.L. Jat, Z.A. Ganie, B.S. Chauhan, R.K. Gupta. 2016. Herbicide options for effective weed management in dry direct-seeded rice under scented rice-wheat rotation of western Indo-Gangetic Plains. Crop Protection 81:168-176. Online doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2015.12.021
  14. Singh, V., N.R. Burgos, S. Singh, D. Gealy, E. Gbur, A. Caicedo. 2016. Impact of volunteer rice infestation on yield and grain quality of rice. Pest Management Science. Online doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.4343
  15. Singh, V., N.R. Burgos, S. Singh, S. Abugho, L. Earnest, B. Scott. 2016. Herbicide and winter flood treatments for controlling volunteer rice off-season. Crop Protection 79:87-96. Online doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2015.10.001
  16. Burgos, N.R., V. Singh, T.M. Tseng, H. Black, N.D. Young, Z. Huang, K.E. Hyma, D.R. Gealy, A.L. Caicedo. 2014. The Impact of Herbicide-Resistant Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Technology on phenotypic diversity and population structure of US weedy rice. Plant Physiology 166:1208-1220. Online doi: https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.114.242719
  17. Singh, R.G., S. Singh, V. Singh, R.K. Gupta. 2010. Efficacy of azimsulfuron applied alone and tank mixed with metsulfuron+chlorimuron (almix) in dry direct seeded rice. Indian Journal of Weed Science 42:168-172. Online URL: https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/20113293832

Book Chapters

  1. Mowrer J., N. Rajan, D. Sarangi, D. Zapata, P. Govindasamy, A. Maity, V. Singh. 2020. Soil Management Practices of Major Crops in the United States and Their Potential for Carbon Sequestration. In: Ghosh P., Mahanta S., Mandal D., Mandal B., Ramakrishnan S. (eds) Carbon Management in Tropical and Sub-Tropical Terrestrial Systems. Springer, Singapore. ISBN – 978-981-13-9628-1. Online doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-9628-1_5
  2. Raper, T.B., C. Pilon, V. Singh, J. Snider, S. Stewart, S. Byrd. 2019. Cotton Production in the United States of America: An Overview. In Chauhan et al., editors. Cotton production worldwide. Wiley-Blackwell, New Jersey, USA. ISBN – 978-1-119-38549-3. Online doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119385523.ch11
  3. Bishop, M.P., M.V. Bagavathiannan, D.A. Cope, D. Huo, S.C. Murray, J.A. Olsenholler, W.L. Rooney, J.A. Thomasson, J. Valasek, B.W. Young, A.M. Filippi, D.B. Hays, L. Malambo, S.C. Popescu, N. Rajan, V. Singh, B.F. McCutchen, B. Avant, M. Vidrine (2018). High resolution UAS imagery in agricultural research: Concepts, issues and research directions. In Weng, Q. and He, Y. (Eds.). High Spatial Resolution Remote Sensing: Data, Techniques and Applications, Remote Sensing Applications, chapter 1. CRC Press, New York. Online URL: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9780429893001
  4. Burgos, N.R., C. Rouse, V. Singh, R. Salas, M. Bagavathiannan. 2017. Technological Advances for Weed Management. In Chandrasena, N., and Rao, A.N. (Eds.). Commemorating 50 Years (1967-2017). 50th Anniversary Celebratory Volume, pp. 71-86. Asian-Pacific Weed Science Society (APWSS); Indian Society of Weed Science (ISWS), India and The Weed Science Society of Japan (WSSJ), Japan. pp. 208. ISBN -13: 978-81-931978-5-1. Online URL: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/10343
  5. Singh, V., S. Zhou, Z. Ganie, B. Valverde, L. Avila, E. Marchesan, A. Merotto, G. Zorrilla, N. Burgos,J. Norsworthy, M. Bagavathiannan. 2016. Rice Production in the Americas. In Chauhan et al., editors. Rice production worldwide. Springer International Publishing AG, Cham. Switzerland, pp 137-168. Online doi: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-47516-5_6
  6. Bagavathiannan M., V. Singh, P. Govindaswami, S. Abugho, T. Lui. 2016. Impact of concurrent weed or herbicide stress with other biotic and abiotic stressors on crop production. In Senthil-Kumar M, editor. Plant tolerance to individual and concurrent stresses. Springer International Publishing, pp 33-45. Online doi: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-81-322-3706-8_3

Research Community Memberships

Contact

Resources: 

Dr. Singh is a part of Virginia Tech weed science team developing weed identification resources -  Virginia Tech Weed Identification App and weed management guide for field crops - Mid-Atlantic Field Crop Weed Management Guide, and vegetable crops – Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable recommendations. Along with that, weed science team provides latest updates on weed management issues and new herbicide products through Virginia Ag Pest and Crop Advisor Blog. Growers/ stakeholders may contact Virginia Cooperative Extension Office for more details & submitting samples. 

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