Meet the Associated Faculty and Staff

Chris Starbuck, Ph.D.

1-31 Agriculture Bldg.
Columbia, MO 65211
(573) 882-9630
starbuckc@missouri.edu

Chris's primary research interest is in methods to improve survival and establishment of woody plants after transplanting to the field. Based on research at HARC, a low-tech hydroponic system called the "Missouri Gravel Bed" has been developed that allows bare root trees and shrubs to be planted any time of the year with outstanding survival. This technique shows excellent promise for facilitating Agroforestry planting operations. Other interests include the commercial production of pine needles in Missouri for use as landscape mulch and composting of on-farm-produced chips of silver maple for use as a soil amendment or potting soil.

Publications

• Bohnert. C.A., C. Starbuck, and S. Anderson. 2008. Amending a Gravel Based Growing Medium with Calcined Clay Improves Physical Properties and Seedling Growth. J. Environ. Hort. 26:149-56
• Pinzon, O.P., R.M. Houseman and C.J. Starbuck. 2006. Feeding, weight change, survival, and aggregation of Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in seven varieties of differentially-aged mulch. J. Environ. Hort. 24:1-5.
• Means N.E., C.J. Starbuck, R.J. Kremer, and L.W. Jett. 2005. Effects of a food waste-based soil conditioner on soil properties and plant growth. Compost Sci. and Util. 13:116-121.
• Starbuck C., D.K. Struve and H. Mathers. 2005. Bareroot and balled-and-burlapped red oak and green ash can be summer transplanted using the Missouri Gravel Bed System. HortTechnology. 15:122-127.
• Sharma, J., L.W. Zettler, J.W. VanSambeek and C.J. Starbuck. 2002. Symbiotic seed germination and mycorrhizae of the Federally-threatened Platanthera praeclara (orchidaceae). Am. Midl. Nat. 149:104-120.

Proceedings

• Kirk, S.D.; Starbuck, C.J. and Van Sambeek, J.W. 2005. Missouri Gravel Bed and a Pot-in-Pot system superior to white polyethylene and foam for overwintering Syringa pubescens subsp. patula liners. In: The International Plant Propagators' Combined Proceedings 54: 516-521.
• Kirk, S.D., C.J. Starbuck and J.W. Van Sambeek. 2004. Comparing the growth of Gymnocladus dioicus in a pea gravel medium amended with calcined clay or expanded shale. In: The International Plant Propagators' Combined Proceedings 53:599-601.
• Gowdy, M., C. Starbuck and R. Munson. 2002. Summer-planting bare root Buxus sinica var. insularis 'Wintergreen' shrubs on the University of Missouri campus from a Missouri Gravel Bed. In: The International Plant Propagators' Combined Proceedings. 52: 518.

Abstract

• Starbuck, C. J. 2006. The Missouri Gravel Bed: A method facilitating season-long planting of bare root trees and shrubs. HortScience. 41(4) July.