Andrew G. Ristvey

I am an Extension Specialist for Commercial Horticulture at Wye Research and Education Center at Queenstown, MD and affiliate faculty with the Plant Science and Landscape Architecture Department at the University of Maryland, College Park. I received my Master of Science degree in 1993 from the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore in the MEES program. Soon after I worked on shoreline restoration and then wetland and forest-stand delineation. I spent two years doing environmental and horticultural education at Adkins Arboretum inside Maryland's Tuckahoe State Park. I earned my Doctorate in Horticulture in 2004 after 6 years of research on plant nutrition and nutrient management. My present extension and research interests are plant nutrition, irrigation management, sustainable alternative crop production, and green roof systems.

See my current alternative specialty crop research website at: https://extension.umd.edu/programs/agriculture-food-systems/program-areas/fruit-vegetable-production/alternative-crops

Relevant Peer-Reviewed Publications (since 2004)

Book Chapters:

Majsztrik, J., A. G. Ristvey and J.D. Lea-Cox. 2010. Water and Nutrient Management in the Production of Container-Grown Ornamentals. Hort Reviews. J. Janick (Ed.) J. Wiley, NJ. 38:253-296.

Ristvey, A.G. and G.W. Mooreman. 2014. An integrated approach to minimizing plant pathogens in runoff water from containerized production systems. Pages 365-375 in: Biology, Detection, and Management of Plant Pathogens in Irrigation Water. C. X. Hong, G. W. Moorman, W. Wohanka, and C. Büttner, eds. American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN.  

Selected Refereed Journal Papers:

Wylie, S.E., A.G. Ristvey and N.M. Fiorellino. 2020. Fertility management for industrial hemp production: Current knowledge and future research needs. BCG Bioenergy. 00:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12779

Ristvey, A.G., B.E. Belayneh and J.D. Lea-Cox. 2019. A comparison of irrigation-water containment methods and management strategies between two ornamental production systems to minimize water security threats. Water 2019, 11(12), 2558; doi:10.3390/w11122558

Copes, W.E., A. Ristvey, P.A. Richardson, B.B Belayneh, H. Zhang, J. Lea-Cox and C. Hong. 2018. Monthly Patterns of Nutrient, pH, Alkalinity and Ionic Variables in Run-off Containment Basins in Ornamental Plant Nurseries. HortScience. 53:360-372.

Copes, W.E., H. Zhang, P.A. Richardson, B.B Belayneh, A. Ristvey, J. Lea-Cox, and C. Hong. 2017. Nutrient, pH, Alkalinity, and Ionic Property Levels in Runoff Containment Basins in Alabama, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, and Virginia Ornamental Plant Nurseries. HortScience 52:641-648.

Griffin, W. N., S. Cohan, J.D. Lea-Cox, and A.G. Ristvey. 2017. Green Roof Substrate Composition Affects Phedimus kamtschaticus Growth and Substrate Water Content under Controlled Environmental Conditions. HortSci. 52(2):320-325.

Starry, O., Lea-Cox, J., Ristvey, A., and Cohan, S. 2016. Parameterizing a Water-Balance Model for Predicting Stormwater Runoff from Green Roofs. J. Hydrol. Eng. 21(12):04016046

Zhang, H., Richardson, P.A., Belayneh, B.E., Ristvey, A., Lea-Cox, J.D., Copes, W.E., Moorman, G.W., Hong, C. 2015. Recycling irrigation reservoir stratification and implications for crop health and production. J. Am. Water Resour. Assoc. 52(3):620-631

Zhang, H., Richardson, P.A., Belayneh, B.E., Ristvey, A., Lea-Cox, J.D., Copes, W.E., Moorman, G.W., Hong, C. 2015. Characterization of water quality in stratified nursery recycling irrigation reservoirs. Agricultural Water Management. 160:76-83.

Zhang, H., Richardson, P.A., Belayneh, B.E., Ristvey, A., Lea-Cox, J.D., Copes, W.E., Moorman, G.W., Hong, C. 2015. Comparative analysis of water quality between the runoff entrance and middle of recycling irrigation reservoirs. Water. 7: 3861-3877.

Solano, L., A.G.Ristvey, J.D. Lea-Cox, S.M. Cohan. 2012. Sequestering zinc from recycled crumb rubber in extensive green roof media. Ecological Engineering. 47: 284-290

Lea-Cox, J. D., C. Zhao, D. S. Ross, T. E. Bilderback, J. R. Harris, S. D. Day, C. X. Hong, T. H. Yeager, R. C. Beeson Jr. ,W. L. Bauerle, A. G. Ristvey, M. Lorscheider, S. Dickinson and J. M. Ruter. 2010. A Nursery and Greenhouse Online Knowledge Center: Learning Opportunities for Sustainable Practice. HortTechnology 20: 506-517.

Ristvey, A. G., J. D. Lea-Cox and D. S. Ross. 2007. Nitrogen and Phosphorus Uptake-Efficiency and Partitioning of Container Grown Azalea During Spring Growth. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science. 132:563-571.

Ristvey A. G. and S. Rebach. 1999. Enhancement of the response of rock crabs, Cancer irroratus, to prey odors following feeding experience. Biological Bulletin. 197: 361-367.

Select Research Proceedings:

Ristvey, A. and S. Mathew. 2011. Aronia: Cultural and production considerations as an alternative crop. Combined Proceedings of the International Plant Propagators Society. 61: 61:463-468.

Solano, S. L., A. G. Ristvey, S. M. Cohan and J. D. Lea-Cox. 2010. Cation exchange capacity of inorganic green roof substrates prevents the negative effect of available Zinc on Sedum species. Proceedings of the 2010 International Low Impact Development Conference: Redefining Water in the City. American Society of Civil Engineers. San Francisco, CA. April. 11-15, 2010. 2:878- 888.

Ristvey, A. G. S.L. Solano, J. D. Lea-Cox, and S. M. Cohan. 2010. Effects of Crumb Rubber Amendments on the Porosity, Water Holding Capacity and Bulk Density of Three Green Roof Substrates . Proceedings of the 2010 International Low Impact Development Conference: Redefining Water in the City. American Society of Civil Engineers. San Francisco, CA. April. 11-15, 2010. 2:888-896.

Lea-Cox, J. D., A. G. Ristvey, D.S. Ross and G. Kantor. 2010. Wireless Sensor Networks to Precisely Monitor Substrate Moisture and Electrical Conductivity Dynamics in a Cut-Flower Greenhouse Operation. Acta Hort.  893:1057-1063

Solano, S. L., A. G. Ristvey, J. D. Lea-Cox and S. M. Cohan. 2009. Potential Adsorption of Zinc in Crumb Rubber-Amended Green Roof Substrates. Proceedings of the 54th Southern Nursery Association Research Conference. 54: 166-170.

Ristvey, A.G. and S. Tangren. 2009. Organic Production of Photinia melanocarpa [(Michx.) Robertson and Phipps] as an Alternative Fruit Crop. Proceedings of the 54th Southern Nursery Association Research Conference. 54:380-383.

Lea-Cox, J. D., A. G. Ristvey, D. S. Ross and G.F. Kantor and. 2009. Deployment of Wireless Sensor Networks for Irrigation and Nutrient Management in Nursery and Greenhouse Operations. Proceedings of the 54th Southern Nursery Association Research Conference. 54: 28-34.

Solano, S. L., J. Himmelstein, A. G. Ristvey, J. D. Lea-Cox and S. M. Cohan. 2008. Tolerance of Sedum spp. to Various Ratios of Crumb Rubber Amendments in a Green Roof Substrate. Proceedings of the 53rd Southern Nursery Association Research Conference 53:68-73.

Ristvey, A.G. and S. Tangren. 2008. Nutrient Uptake and Use Efficiency of Four Mid-Atlantic Native Species Under Different Nutrient Rates and Urea. Proceedings of the 53rd Southern Nurseryman’s Association Research Conference. 53:57-62.

Lea-Cox, J. D., G. Kantor, J. Anhalt, A. G. Ristvey and D. S. Ross. 2007. A Wireless Sensor Network for the Nursery and Greenhouse Industry. Proceedings of the 52nd Southern Nursery Association Research Conference. 52: 454-458.

Ristvey, A. G. and V. Rosenkranz. 2007. Can silicon ameliorate manganese toxicity in azalea? Proceedings of the 52nd Southern Nursery Association Research Conference. 52: 561-563.