Publications
NIBIOs employees contribute to several hundred scientific articles and research reports every year. You can browse or search in our collection which contains references and links to these publications as well as other research and dissemination activities. The collection is continously updated with new and historical material.
2026
Authors
Kristina Bringedal Gedde Georgios Triantafyllidis Alessio Miatto Lone Ross Lizhen Huang Daniel Beat MuellerAbstract
Abstract The building sector accounts for a significant share of global material stocks and embodied greenhouse gas emissions. Material intensity (MI), defined as construction materials per unit floor area, is a key metric for understanding resource use and environmental performance. Existing approaches estimate MI for specific building types and cohorts but rarely explore additional factors that influence the structural element requirements. This study refines traditional methods by incorporating building geometry, number of floors, geographical context, construction methods, and regulatory changes, using Norwegian residential buildings as a case study. We focus on stud use in exterior walls to understand how their MI (kg/m 2 ) varies across buildings. Our correlation analysis reveals that construction year (ρ = 0.69) and energy efficiency standards (ρ = 0.51) are associated with higher MI of studs while building length shows a notable negative correlation (ρ = –0.38). Timber stud MI increases with footprint complexity and number of floors but decreases as building length and floor area grow. Snow load further contributes to increased stud MI. Studs' MI also varies across periods, reflecting changes in regulations and construction practices. These findings enhance our understanding of material use drivers in timber structures and provide a foundation for developing more nuanced building stock models to improve resource efficiency assessments and support targeted climate mitigation strategies.
Abstract
Abstract Incidence of the spruce gall adelgid ( Adelges abietis ; “spruce gall aphid” sensu common usage) was assessed as presence/absence in Norway spruce trials in Norway. The trial series comprised a long-term provenance test, a short-term provenance test (36 provenances), three diallel populations (10×10, 10×10, 9×9), a 10×10 factorial cross (100 families), and a clonal test (40 clones). Substantial genetic variation in gall incidence was observed among provenances, among families, and among clones within families. Provenances transferred from low- to mid-elevation Central Europe exhibited higher gall incidence than Nordic and Baltic origins, whereas high-elevation Central European material showed lower incidence. Family-level variation was detected in both natural-population diallels and breeding-population factorial material; a strong agreement was observed between family and derived clone performance (family–clone r ≈ 0.91). Variance-component analyses indicated predominantly additive genetic control, with additional non-additive effects in some crosses. Corresponding narrow-sense heritability estimates were low to moderate (≈ 0.06–0.22). Site effects were evident, with higher expression associated with greater vigor on fertile soils in some trials. Overall, the results indicate that selection for reduced galling is feasible and that provenance choice and site fertility should be considered in deployment and climate-adaptation strategies.
Authors
Lampros LamprinakisAbstract
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Authors
Nicole P. Anderson Thomas G. Chastain Jing ZhouAbstract
Abstract Seed moisture content (SMC) is the most reliable indicator of seed maturity and the optimal harvest timing in grass seed crops. Current SMC testing methodologies used in grass seed crops are slow or inaccurate, making it difficult to make timely harvest decisions. Harvesting too early can result in low seed weight and poor seed germination. Delaying harvest past the point of physiological maturity reduces seed yield by increasing losses due to shattering. Our objective was to validate the feasibility of using portable near‐infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) as a field‐based alternative to the oven method for determining SMC in cool‐season grass seed crops. Eight cool‐season grass species were used in field testing of the portable NIRS sensor over eight harvest seasons. Daily testing of SMC began when grass seed crops were at Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt and Chemische Industrie (BBCH) growth stage 69 and continued until windrowing. Seed samples were collected from each crop by cutting ∼40 inflorescences, then stripping the seeds into airtight containers until ready for estimation of SMC with a portable NIRS sensor, using SMC measurement by laboratory air‐oven (130°C) as the reference method. The SMC estimates made by the portable NIRS sensor were predictive of the actual SMC determined by the oven reference method across all eight grass species. These SMC predictions by the sensor closely followed the seasonal loss of SMC as the seed matured. Spring agronomic practices (mowing, plant growth regulators, foliar fungicides, and nitrogen fertilization) did not influence NIRS predictions of SMC compared with untreated controls. The portable NIRS sensor is a promising tool for determining harvest timing in grass seed crops by using predicted SMC values.
Authors
Aline Roma Tomaz Rattan Lal William Ramos da Silva Thiago Inagaki Aline dos Santos Correia Felipe José Cury Fracetto Giselle Gomes Monteiro Fracetto Clever Briedis Débora Marcondes Bastos Pereira Milori Abelardo Antônio de Assunção Montenegro Ademir de Oliveira FerreiraAbstract
In semiarid regions, soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and soil organic matter (SOM) pools are often low due to limited biomass input and inadequate management. This study evaluated SOC stocks and SOM fractions in a forage cactus–sorghum intercropping system irrigated with treated sewage water under diverse mulch in the northeastern Brazilian semiarid. The experiment followed a randomized split-plot block design with four replicates. Main plots included four irrigation levels (0, 80, 100, and 120 % of sorghum evapotranspiration (ETc)), and split plots comprised two mulch treatments: no mulch (NM) and mulch (WM) with 8 Mg ha−1 of sabi grass, spiny burrgrass, and goosegrass. Soil samples were collected at 0–0.10, 0.10–0.20, and 0.20–0.40 m depths in three sorghum cuts to determine labile SOM fractions: hot water-extractable C (HWEO-C), potassium permanganate-oxidizable C (POX-C), and particulate organic C (POC). In addition, SOC stocks and humic substances (HS), including humin (HU), fulvic acid (FA), and humic acid (HA), were determined at the end of the experiment. Intercropping system productivity was also evaluated. The highest SOC, POC, POX-C, and HWEO-C stocks occurred in 80WM and 100WM treatments, especially in HS, with HU as the dominant component. SOC in the HU fraction exceeded that in native vegetation soils, with threefold increases at 0–0.10 m and six-to sevenfold increases in deeper layers. Soils without irrigation, regardless of mulch, exhibited lower C storage, underscoring the importance of water management. Combining reclaimed water irrigation and mulching enhanced SOC accumulation, particularly in stable humic fractions, boosted carbon sequestration and crop productivity, and fostered sustainable, climate-resilient agriculture in semiarid tropical regions.
Abstract
Abstract Background and Aims Efficient phosphorus (P) and management is essential for sustainable arable systems. Cover crops (CCs) are promising, but their performance is uncertain in high-latitudes. This three-year study evaluated CCs’ effects on P dynamics in a P-rich soil undersown in barley in Mid-Norway (63.9°N)—one of the northernmost trials of its kind. Methods A randomized complete block design included three CC treatments: ryegrass (CC1), a ryegrass–clover mix (CC2), and a four species mix including grass, legumes and herbs (CC3), and controls without CC (with/without NPK fertilizer). Soil and plant analyses included total and available P, total N, potentially mineralizable N (PMN), pH, permanganate-oxidizable carbon, root biomass, plant P concentrations, and microbial abundance via qPCR. Statistical analysis was based on Linear Mixed Models (LMMs). Results Cover crops successfully established (average biomass: 1525 kg ha⁻ 1 ), accumulated ~ 7 kg P ha⁻ 1 , and did not reduce barley yields. LMMs showed significant effects of CC treatment on root biomass, total P, and bacteria. Pairwise comparisons also revealed that fungal abundances in CC1 and CC3 were significantly higher than in the unfertilized control. Pairwise regression revealed that soil total P was strongly predicted by root biomass (β = 1.37, P < 0.001). Available P was negatively controlled by microbial pools (Bacteria: β = -9.22, P < 0.001) and residue quality (C:P ratio: β = -0.36, P < 0.001). Conclusions CCs can be used at 63°N without yield penalty. The primary P mechanism is mass-driven sequestration (root biomass) into the stable total P pool. However, P availability is temporally constrained by residue quality and microbial competition. Graphical Abstract
Authors
Gunhild Bødtker Claire Coutris Eva Marie-Louise Denison Barbara Alexandra Bukhvalova Åsa Frostegård Erik J. Joner Bjørn Tore Lunestad Kaare Magne Nielsen Pål Trosvik Siamak Pour Yazdankhah Elisabeth Henie MadslienAbstract
Etterspørselen etter bionedbrytbar plast øker, men vi vet for lite om hvordan den brytes ned, hvor raskt det skjer og hvilke konsekvenser det har for miljøet. Nå har Vitenskapskomiteen for mat og miljø (VKM) kartlagt hvilken vitenskapelig litteratur som finnes.
Abstract
This paper presents a comprehensive study on lightweight cement-bonded composites containing pulp sludge (PS). The objective of the study was to evaluate how the incorporation of perlite (a lightweight volcanic glass aggregate) and lime mud (a pulp mill residue) influences composites’ properties including mechanical strength, insulation and fire resistance. Up to 50% of the cement binder was replaced with PS (by mass), and small fractions of cement (5–15%) were replaced with perlite or lime mud. A suite of analytical techniques, material characterization and mechanical tests with digital image correlation (DIC) for strain analysis were employed. X-ray analysis showed that the aggregates influenced the composite properties to a considerable extent due to their particle sizes and ability to form hydrated gels with cement. Adding 5% of perlite or lime mud yields optimal strength without compromising weight reduction whereas higher aggregate content (15%) led to reduced strength. The DIC system provided insights into strain distribution during loading, confirming enhanced toughness from the fibrous PS. The composites were significantly lighter (732–749 kg/m3) and showed about 30% lower thermal conductivity (0.17 W/mK) than pure cement composites (0.25 W/mK). The normal incidence sound absorption of the composites was about 0.3 at mid-high frequencies due to their compact structure. The composites demonstrated potential for use as sustainable, lightweight construction materials with good acoustic and thermal insulation, as well as acceptable load-bearing capacity for non-structural applications based on EN 634-1/-2 requirements for cement-bonded particleboards.
Authors
Charlotte Møller Pieter De Frenne J. Mason Heberling Jesse Bellemare Jörg Brunet Hans Henrik Bruun Jacques Cayouette Guillaume Decocq Martin Diekmann Božo Frajman Jenny Hagenblad Per‐Ola Hedwall Bonnie L. Isaac Aino Kalske Jonathan Lenoir Jaan Liira Martí March‐Salas Anne Muola Anna Orczewska Federico Selvi Brandon Wheeler Marcel Sieck Hagen von Klopotek J. F. ScheepensAbstract
Aim Widespread species encounter a range of variable climates that can lead to intraspecific trait clines. Such clines can be the result of phenotypic plasticity, genetic differences, or both. Although latitude often explains a large part of trait variation, it is crucial to investigate the underlying environmental variables to understand current and future trait responses. Cross‐continental comparisons of species that are native on multiple continents provide a rarely used approach that can help identify the environmental drivers of intraspecific trait clines. Location Europe and North America. Time Period 2021–2023. Major Taxa Studied Milium effusum L. (Poaceae). Methods To quantify the influence of environmental gradients on functional traits across geographical regions that vary in climate, we sampled M. effusum seeds from 23 European and 14 North American populations and transplanted them in a common garden. We measured 10 vegetative, reproductive, and phenological traits. We used 30‐year averages of 19 bioclimatic variables, while accounting for the latitudinal and elevational position of the population origins, to compare the trait‐environment relationships between continents. Results Our results showed that European populations occupy a broader climatic range than North American populations. Differences between continents were found in most of the traits as well as in the multivariate trait space. The traits were affected more by bioclimatic variables than by latitude or elevation. While flowering, leaf thickness, specific leaf area, and reproductive height showed parallel clines to the environment between continents, vegetative height and biomass showed contrasting clines. Main Conclusions Environmental influences from population origins revealed parallel clines between the continents for functional traits, suggesting shared selective pressures, while contrasting clines for plant size indicated different evolutionary trajectories, potential bottlenecks, or interactions with unknown ecological factors. This study highlights the complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and evolutionary factors in shaping phenotypic variation in native species across continents.