Kristopher Criscione

• Nursery production
• Soilless substrates physics and hydrology
• Container rootzone management
• Root-substrate interactions
• Ornamental plant water relations

• Ph.D. Plant, Environmental, and Soil Science (Horticulture), Louisiana State University, 2024
• M.S. Plant, Environmental, and Soil Science (Horticulture), Louisiana State University, 2021
• B.T. Plant Science, State University of New York at Cobleskill, 2019

My Research and Extension program is focused on improving resource management in commercial containerized crop production to (1) augment operation profitability while (2) minimizing ecological footprint across the industry. The focal points of my research program are to optimize current management practices (e.g., irrigation, agrochemicals, substrates, containers) and reduce labor-intensive practices through the state of Virginia, nationally, and internationally. This is facilitated through a blend of fieldwork (nursery or greenhouse) and laboratory analysis, with the goal of participating in interdisciplinary collaborations across agricultural and engineering systems. My program demonstrates the mission, visions, and values within the College of Agriculture and Life Science, namely ensuring that agricultural systems continue producing profitable yields with ROI’s in sustainable approaches across local- and global issues.

My Extension appointment is driven by the indicated needs of the Virginia nursery industry. The primary goal of my extension program is to ensure stakeholder engagement and that solution-driven research is being conducted for immediate adoption by operations and growers.

Research Interests 

The problem: Ornamental horticulture, namely container production, is a resource-intensive industry that requires constant finite inputs to produce markable container crops in a rapid time-frame. Moreover, the industry is expanding as (1) more consumers are interested in home gardening, (2) standard cost of living is increasing, and (3) the rise urbanization is stimulating demand by residents to live in aesthetically pleasing environments.

Meanwhile, current nursery production practices can be rather inefficient regarding substrate efficiency and water and agrochemical use. Hotter and drier summers drive for more water applications; however, more water use typically results in exacerbated agrochemical runoff and ineffective economic return on investments. Municipal and agricultural competition for water use, as well as stricter water and runoff regulations will make future nursery production more challenging.

Additional aggravations to the industry include the reduction in labor reserves, considering the industry’s’ labor-intensive requirements and supply-chain disruptions due to political conflicts or developing trade-wars.

Therefore, we are presented with a conundrum: how are we to produce more container crops, while using less water, agrochemicals and other necessary supplies (plastic, equipment, heavy machinery), more sustainable substrates, and reduced labor?

Research interests are described below to assist the Virginia and global nursery industry to (1) meet consumer demand with (2) decreased access to conventional resources while (3) remaining competitive in the industry.

• Soilless substrate hydraulic properties
• Containerized root development
• Root-substrate interactions
• Irrigation scheduling and delivery
• Fertilizer scheduling, formulation, and placement
• Rootzone temperature management
• Automation
  • Smart Irrigation
  • Inventory
  • Commercial potting lines
  • Agrochemical applications
• Plant water relations under optimal and stressed conditions

Assistant Professor | 2025-present Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

1. Fields, J.S., K.S. Criscione, and J.S. Owen, Jr. 2024. Assessment of substrate physical properties in bark- and peat-based stratified substrate systems. Hort. Sci. 59:1823-1827. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18188-24
2. Fields, J.S., K.S. Criscione, and J.S. Owen. 2024. Conventional Sphagnum peatlite substrate can be reduced by 50% in stratified substrate systems while growing equivalent size and quality Pentas lanceolata. Scientia Horticulturae, 331. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2024.113121.
3. Criscione, K.S., J.S. Fields, J.S. Owen, Jr, and T. Gentimis. 2024. Stratified substrates enhance water storage and distribution between irrigation events. Soil Sci. Soc. J. 88, 387–402. https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.20636.
4. Criscione, K.S. and J.S. Fields. 2024. Root growth and development in soilless culture – A review. Acta. Hort. 10.17660/ActaHortic.2024.1389.1
5. Fields, J.S., J.S. Owen, Jr., A. Lamm, B.E. Jackson, J. Altland, L. Oki, J. Samtani, K.S., Criscione, and Y. Zheng. 2023. Establishing North American specialty crop growers current use of soilless substrate and future research and education needs. Agri. 13, 1727. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13091727
6. Fields, J.S. and K.S. Criscione. 2023. Pine bark particle separation improves as screening moisture content decreases. Hort. Sci. 58:1068–1074. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17205-23
7. Fields, J.S. and K.S. Criscione. 2023. Stratified substrates can reduce peat use and improve root productivity in container crop production. Hort. Sci. 58:364-372. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17019-22
8. Criscione, K.S., J.S. Fields, and J.S. Owen Jr. 2022. Root exploration, initial moisture conditions, and irrigation scheduling influence hydration of stratified and non-stratified substrates. Horticulturae. 8:826. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8090826
9. Fields, J.S., K.S. Criscione, and A. Edwards. 2022. Single-screen bark particle separation can be used to engineer stratified substrate systems. Hort. Tech. 32:391-397. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05018-22
10. Criscione, K.S., J.S. Fields, J.S. Owen Jr., L. Fultz, and E. Bush. 2022. Evaluating stratified substrates effect on containerized crop growth under varied irrigation strategies. Hort. Sci. 57:400-413. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI16288-21