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
Thiago Inagaki Frederik Bøe Ievina Sturite Meike S. Bärmann Franziska Bucka Alice Budai Anders Aas Daniel RasseAbstract
In high-latitude arable systems (63.9°N), short growing seasons and cold climates often constrain regenerative practices. This study investigates how cover crop (CC) diversity influences the synergy among root development, carbon (C) persistence, and nutrient (N and P) dynamics within a barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)-oat (Avena sativa) rotation. Over three years, we evaluated a gradient of CC intercropping complexity using a randomized complete block design. Treatments were: (1) Control (barley/oat without NPK), (2) Biochar-Fertilizer (barley/oat + NPK + 1.8 Mg ha-1 year-1 biochar), (3) Monocrop (barley/oat), (4) Ryegrass (barley + ryegrass), (5) Clover (barley + ryegrass + white/red clover), and (6) Chicory (barley + ryegrass + red clover + chicory + bird’s-foot trefoil). We quantified root biomass, soil organic matter (SOM) fractions, specifically Mineral-Associated Organic Matter (MAOM) and Particulate Organic Matter (POM), aggregate stability, nutrient stocks, and microbial abundance via qPCR. The CCs sown shortly after barley were successfully established, with an average biomass of 1525 kg/ha, without compromising cereal yields, thereby confirming their viability in Nordic climates. A central finding was that root development served as the primary driver of organo-mineral associations. Ryegrass- and Clover-based systems produced significantly higher root biomass, which correlated strongly (p < 0.01) with MAOM stocks and total P acquisition. These systems stored 12 Mg/ha more MAOM-C and 1.1 Mg/ha more MAOM-N than the control at 0-20 cm depth. The inclusion of diverse functional traits in the complex five-species mixture significantly improved soil physical structure, yielding higher aggregate stability and lower bulk density. While CCs accumulated approximately 7 kg P/ha, the diverse mix optimized nutrient availability, whereas simpler mixtures showed higher C:P ratios, suggesting potential microbial P immobilization. Microbial abundance was consistently higher in multi-species treatments, indicating a more active biological environment. Ongoing analysis integrates cereal physiological data, focusing on the photosynthetic efficiency of oats in response to cultivation? regimes. Our findings bridge the gap between root morphology, plant physiology, and long-term SOM persistence, providing a strategic framework for using functional crop traits to enhance soil resilience and nutrient efficiency in cold-climate regions.
Authors
Thiago Inagaki Frederik Bøe Ievina Sturite Meike Sophie Bärmann Franziska Bucka Alice Budai Anders Aas Daniel RasseAbstract
High-latitude regions pose challenges for soil organic matter (SOM) sequestration and for improving soil fertility due to low temperatures, which shorten growing seasons and promote off-season nutrient leaching. Even long-term experiments on conservation practices have shown only modest increases in C storage. Nonetheless, persistent SOM fractions, such as mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM), have been shown to improve relatively quickly through conservation practices in temperate regions, which could be key in high-latitude regions. MAOM is an important SOM fraction not only for promoting carbon (C) storage but also for providing an available form of nitrogen (N) for plant nutrition. In this study, we show that, in Norwegian agriculture (63.9°N), MAOM (C and N) stocks improved only after three years of implementing cover crop systems that combined 1 to 4 cover crops with cereals (barley or oats) intercropped simultaneously (12 Mg ha-1 for C and 1.1 Mg ha-1 for N in the 0-20 cm layer more compared to unfertilized Control plots). Cover crops containing red and white clover and ryegrass efficiently increased the MAOM fraction in soil. An increase in root biomass and changes in root morphology were the primary factors linking cover crops to MAOM improvements in this field. In addition to benefits for SOM stocks, we recorded improvements in microbial abundance, soil structure, nutrient cycling, and cereal physiology. Our findings help to reframe MAOM as a bioavailable nutrient pool essential for soil health and nutrient cycling, which can be improved in the relatively short term through root development.
Abstract
Purpose Advanced remote sensing and imagery technology help to estimate variability in grass ley plant coverage (PC). Adjusted manure and fertiliser application rates can be derived according to this variability, by means of machine learning and advanced image processing. This study aimed to determine the effects of variable nitrogen (N) rate from manure and synthetic fertiliser application on a grass ley field experiment in southwestern Norway, thereby generating N rate recommendations. The effects on dry matter yield, N use efficiency, and forage nutritive value were determined. Methods A field experiment was conducted in 2022-2023 and repeated in 2023-2024, estimating PC using digital processing of autumn and spring aerial images to determine fertiliser rates. Three fixed and two variable manure and mineral N rates were applied in early spring and after the first and second cuts. Forage dry matter yield (FDMY) and agronomic N use efficiecy (AgNUE) were evaluated over two seasons. Results A low or variable N rate based on spring coverage led to FDMY and AgNUE comparable to high N rates. Spring and autumn coverage during the second season improved slurry application decisions, offering a valuable tool for grassland management. The N rate-response model effectively represented the nonlinear behaviour of FDMY, revealing a strong concave response to N rates, significant seasonal variations, and a notable flattening of the response in 2024. Predicted curves indicated that the most beneficial N application occurs in earlier cuts, as late-season applications showed diminished yield leverage under 2024 conditions. Conclusion Image analysis can effectively support variable-rate fertiliser recommendations for perennial grasslands, although such approaches only improved N usage in one of two years. Whilst variable-rate application (VRA) is resilient during constrained regrowth years, interannual weather variability and seasonal conditions significantly influenced N responsiveness, indicating the necessity for calibrating cover-based models to enhance nutrient management efficiency under varying climate conditions.
Abstract
The sensory appeal of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) depends on its chemical composition, including sugars, organic acids, and aroma-active volatiles. To investigate the effects of temperature and light conditions on fruit quality, strawberry plants (cv. Sonsation) were grown at six temperature regimes (9, 12, 15, 18, 21 °C, and 21/9 °C-day/night) and four combinations of light intensities (150 and 300 μmol/m2/s) and photoperiods (12 and 24 h/day). Yield, °Brix/acidity ratio and volatile compounds were assessed. °Brix increased with light intensity and photoperiod, while higher temperatures (15–21 °C) correlated with acidity. A favorable °Brix/acidity ratio correlated with both continuous light and high light intensity, as well as low ripening temperature. Volatile content peaked at 15 °C, and declined at 9 °C, proportionally elevating acids and reducing terpenoids. The findings indicate that extended high-intensity light can optimize sweetness and aroma in cv. Sonsation, whereas low temperatures benefit the °Brix-acidity balance but may reduce volatile compound development.
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Irene Kagiampaki Manolis Mandalakis Thekla I Anastasiou Lampros Lamprinakis Valborg KvakkestadAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Abstract
This report presents results from apple cultivar testing at NIBIO Ullensvang during 2016–2024. In total, 23 cultivars and advanced selections were evaluated for flowering, harvest time, yield, tree efficiency, fruit quality, and potential storage performance. Clear differences were found among cultivars in productivity and market suitability. ‘Fonn’ and ‘Jonagold Decosta Robijn’ were the most promising cultivars, combining high and stable yields, good fruit quality, and attractive fruit size. Both of them can be recommended for further commercial testing in a wide scale. Cultivar ‘Santana’ showed value as a niche cultivar because of its stable yield, scab resistance, and suitability for low-allergen and organic production, although its relatively high acidity reduced taste scores. Small fruited cultivar ‘Early Crunch’ produces very tasteful fruits and may have potential in the snack-apple segment.
Authors
S. Ellen Macdonald Anne C. S. McIntosh Selena Schut Samuel Bartels Seung-Il Lee Elvira Baisheva Jeff Battigelli Erin Bayne Yves Bergeron Mathieu Bouchard Brendan Casey Mats Dynesius I. Tanya Handa Joakim Hjältén Kristoffer Hylander Matti Koivula Jari Kouki Therese Löfroth Asko Lõhmus Anders Nielsen Sonya Odsen Manuela Panzacchi Jaime Pinzon Peter B. Reich Pavel Shirokikh Ekaterina Shorohova Ilkka Vanha-Majamaa Lisa Venier Tim Work Linhao WuAbstract
Boreal forests are important reservoirs of biodiversity, carbon and timber stocks. However, timber harvest can alter biodiversity in these forests without clear evidence on the duration needed for biotic groups to recover. Resilience of boreal forest biodiversity to clear-cut harvest was examined with a meta-analysis of 190 datasets from boreal and hemi-boreal forests of Europe/Russia and North America for arthropods, birds, small mammals, lichens, bryophytes and vascular plants. We modelled similarity of community composition between harvested and unharvested stands versus years post harvest. In approximately half of cases, predicted times for recovery to pre-harvest composition were ≤30 years. In other cases, recovery took much longer or had not occurred within the timeframe of our data; for example, in conifer forest: >100 years (bryophytes), >55 years (small mammals), ~95 years (lichens) and ~85 years (vascular plants). Saproxylic beetles showed no resilience within the 16 (conifer forest) or 29 (mixed forest) years post harvest for which we had data. Recovery generally took longer in conifer and mixed than in broadleaf forests, which always showed either resistance (bryophytes, vascular plants) or resilience with recovery within 12–25 years. Conserving biodiversity in boreal forests will require extended rotations, management for ‘old forest’ structural elements and areas protected from harvesting.
Abstract
Conference paper presenting rumen degradation and in vitro gas production characteristics of grass-clover pulp silage compared with conventional grass-clover silage.
Abstract
Within the EUFRIN apple rootstock trials, seven apple rootstocks are being tested for their resistance to ARD (apple replant disease) in several European countries. The current paper focuses on the effects of rootstock and soil type (ARD vs. fresh soil) on the accumulation of phenolic compounds in apple fruit. This research was performed at the Lithuanian trial site. Accumulation of phenolic compounds in fruit tissues was enhanced in replanted soil. On average, total phenol content in fruit flesh increased by 25%, and in fruit peel by 31%. Hyperoside and rutin in fruit flesh, and hyperoside, reynoutrin, phloridzin, and procyanidin C1 were the most variable among detected phenolic compounds, and their content in fruits from ARD soil was by 50-77% higher than in fruits from the fresh soil. The content of (-)-epicatechin in fruit flesh and (+)-catechin and procyanidin B1 in fruit peel was similar in both ARD and fresh soil. Rootstock had a significant effect on phenolic compound accumulation, but this effect was modified by soil conditions. Soil type had no effect on total phenol accumulation in fruits (flesh and peel) grown on Pajam 2 rootstock. Also, a stable phenol content in fruit flesh was on G.11 and M200 rootstocks, and in fruit peel on G.41. The highest increase of total phenol content at replant conditions was recorded on B.10 (by 66% in flesh and 60% in peel) and on G.935 (by 68% in flesh and 47% in peel) rootstocks.