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.
2025
Authors
Johanna Witzell Alberto Vilagrosa Branko Kanjevac Kjersti Holt Hanssen Donato Chiatante Ieva Bebre Palle Madsen Melis Çerçioğlu Luna MorcilloAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Pedro Villar-Salvador Enrique Andivia Barbara Mariotti Juan A. Oliet Jaime Puértolas Claudia Cocozza Vladan Ivetić Marianthi Tsakaldimi Antonio Montagnoli Branislav Cvjetković R. Kasten Dumroese Inger Sundheim Fløistad Eduardo Arellano Jovana Devetaković Julio J. Diez Guolei Li Alberto Maltoni Juan F. Ovalle Fabio Salbitano Roberto Tognetti Maurizio Ventura Alberto Vilagrosa Johanna WitzellAbstract
Seedling functional attributes (i.e., morphological and physiological traits driving water, carbon, and nutrient economy, as well as stress resistance and resilience) influence the early performance of forest plantings. Nursery environment and cultivation practices interact with species ecology to shape these attributes and potential outplanting success. Although extensive literature exists on these topics, studies that have quantitatively synthesized findings to generalize plant quality and nursery cultivation theory are almost nonexistent. This chapter quantitatively reviews the effects of (1) seedling size and shoot-to-root mass ratio (S/R) and (2) several nursery cultivation practices on outplanting survival and growth. Examined practices include stock type (container vs. bareroot (BR)), drought and blackout hardening, container properties in oaks and pines, and growing media alternatives to peat. For this, we developed different databases compiling information at a global scale from scientific and technical literature in different languages. Seedling size significantly enhances outplanting survival when comparing seedlings of the same age, while S/R does not. Stocktype and species-specific leaf area (SLA), a trait related to resource acquisition capacity and stress resistance in plants, modulate the effect of morphology on survival, particularly on arid sites. In dry climates, large seedlings have a survival advantage over small seedlings in low SLA species (i.e., slow growth and high stress resistance plants) cultivated in containers, if water stress is mitigated through intensive soil preparation, and using 1-year-old seedlings. When stock types differ in survival, container plants usually outperform BR stock, especially if soil preparation is performed, and under dry and high weed competition conditions. Drought hardening improves survival, especially in shrubs, but can negatively affect survival in drought-sensitive species on low aridity sites. Blackout reduces field growth, particularly in drought-tolerant species. The effect of container characteristics on survival differs between oaks and pines: for oaks, reducing plant spacing in small to moderate containers (<400 mL) is preferable to maximize survival, while for pines, increasing container depth is more effective. Peat alternatives, including manure, organic waste, and rice hulls, improved survival, whereas sludge performed poorly. Rice was most effective on humid sites, while manure and organic waste showed consistent benefits across climates. Our findings highlight the potential for peat alternatives, with effectiveness depending on local ecological and economic conditions. Based on these results, we provide recommendations to match seedlings’ size and S/R to species' SLA, stocktype, soil preparation intensity, and aridity of the planting site, along with cultivation guidelines for producing such a variety of seedlings.
Authors
Martin Volk Natasha Amorsi Sabina Bokal Natalja Cerkasova Rozalia Cvejic Csilla Farkas Benoît Fribourg-Blanc Petr Fucik Matjaz Glavan Luka Honzak Dominika Krzeminska Tatenda Lemann Federica Monaco Attila Nemes Ingrid Nesheim Mikolaj Piniewski Christoph Schürz Michael Strauch Brigitta Szabo Felix Witing Cordula WittekindAbstract
The increasing frequency of droughts and heavy rainfall is intensifying conflicts between agricultural water use and other human and environmental demands. Natural/Small Water Retention Measures (NSWRMs) can help mitigate these conflicts by enhancing water quality, improving agricultural resilience, and contributing to sustainable development goals. However, there are knowledge gaps about the effectiveness of these measures across different regions, scales, and climate conditions. The EU Horizon 2020 project OPTAIN aims to address these challenges in 14 European case studies. The project involves local stakeholders through Multi-Actor Reference Groups, which have identified and documented 235 potential NSWRMs, of which 66 from 29 categories have been selected for further evaluation. These measures are catalogued in collaboration with the WOCAT and NWRM.eu databases. To assess the impact of these NSWRMs at field and catchment scale, OPTAIN applies the SWAT+ model with a fully distributed routing scheme, accompanied by further field-scale simulations using SWAP in areas of high data availability. The project developed protocols and R scripts to standardize data preparation, model calibration, and evaluation across case studies, ensuring consistent analysis. Initial simulations in the German case study demonstrate positive effects of NSWRMs, such as low tillage and grassed waterways, in reducing peak water flows, increasing low flows, and enhancing nutrient and sediment retention. Furthermore, the project linked SWAT+ with an economic model using the CoMOLA platform to optimize NSWRM allocations based on environmental and economic criteria. Policy analysis is another important component of OPTAIN, with local and regional policies being reviewed to identify gaps and opportunities for harmonizing water and agricultural policies across Europe. Interim findings, shared through policy briefs, emphasize the need for better integration of agro-environmental policies, increased intersectoral collaboration, and awareness-raising among stakeholders. OPTAIN's overarching goal is to improve the acceptance and implementation of NSWRMs by harmonizing data, methods, and policies across the 14 case studies. While there are significant differences between countries, which pose challenges for comparative studies, the project is working to address these through data standardization and model improvements. The R scripts developed by the project will assist future SWAT+ users worldwide in setting up and calibrating models to evaluate the effectiveness of NSWRMs in water and nutrient retention. Ultimately, OPTAIN aims to optimize the spatial allocation and combination of NSWRMs, ensuring they are both environmentally and economically sustainable, while also promoting policy alignment at local, national, and EU levels.
Authors
Csilla Farkas Moritz Shore Christoph Schürz Agota Horel Gökhan Cücelöglu Dorota Mirosław-Świątek Maria Eliza Turek Annelie Holzkaemper Joana Eichenberger Piroska Kassai Brigitta Szabo Tibor Zsigmond Natalja Cerkasova Peter Fucik Antonin Zajicek Stepan Marval Mojtaba ShafieiAbstract
Within the EU Horizon project OPTAIN (OPtimal strategies to reTAIN and re-use water and nutrients in small agricultural catchments across different soil-climatic regions in Europe, optain.eu) project, the effects of Natural/Small Water Retention Measures (NSWRMs) on water regime, soil erosion, and nutrient transport are evaluated at both catchment- and field scales for present and future climate conditions. The goal of this study was to assess the effectiveness of selected management-based NSWRMs on soil water retention using the field-scale SWAP soil hydrological model and to compare the results with those simulated by the catchment-scale SWAT+ model. Improved water retention and reduced surface and subsurface runoff are indicators of reduced nutrient and soil particle losses towards the surface and subsurface water bodies. The field-scale assessment was based on the adaptation of the two models to seven pilot sites across three European biogeographical regions and on combined NSWRM – projected climate scenario analyses. The SWAP model was calibrated for all the pilot fields with good or satisfactory results. The impact of four infield NSWRMs - reduced tillage, shifting to grassland, afforestation and drought tolerant crops - on the water balance elements was evaluated. The scenario results indicate that the effects of measures on soil water retention and other water balance elements have some regional pattern, but can be strongly dependent on local conditions (e.g. soil, crop, slope). According to the scenario results, for most of the cases the studied NSWRMs contributed to reducing evaporation, surface and subsurface runoff and percolation to deeper layers, which resulted in increased soil water retention or plant water uptake within the fields. The cross-validation of the field-scale SWAP and catchment-scale SWAT+ models was a challenging task and could only be performed for selected water balance elements (evaporation, transpiration and drainage outflow). Comparable results were obtained in most of the cases for the baseline scenario, but the differences between the soil water balance elements simulated by the two models increased when implementing the different measures.
Abstract
Schistidium pratense and S. heribertii, two distinctive and locally abundant components of the Alpine flora, are here formally described as new species from Europe. Although recognised for over two decades, their official taxonomic treatment has been long overdue. This paper provides an integrative account, combining morphological and molecular evidence, outlining their currently known distribution, and discussing their relationships to related species. Schistidium pratense is closely allied to S. dupretii in both molecular and morphological traits but differs in its larger overall size, including longer shoots and leaves, as well as in the absence of stomata. Schistidium heribertii resembles S. atrofuscum in its black coloration but is distinguished by its prominent leaf hairpoints and a pruinose appearance on the upper parts of the shoots. Molecular analyses place S. heribertii as the sister species to the clade comprising S. atrofuscum and S. helveticum. Both new species share similar ecological preferences, typically colonising calcareous substrates. Schistidium pratense is widespread and locally abundant in subalpine pastures, while S. heribertii has a more scattered distribution and predominantly inhabits warm sites across a broad elevational range in valleys with a continental climate. To date, S. heribertii is known only from the Alps, whereas S. pratense has also been recorded in Scandinavia, the Dinarides, the Apennines and the Black Forest in Germany
Abstract
Abstract Research on Sonchus arvensis L. is underrepresented despite its status as a widespread perennial arable weed in the Northern Hemisphere. This study investigates, based on a comparison of literature data and recent plant metric data, whether there are indications of a problematic expansion in Germany and identified two knowledge gaps. The recent plant metric data were taken between 2019–2024 at various sites in Germany, Norway, and Finland. We structured the results in subchapters along the life-stages of S. arvensis given in their headings: ‘Propagules in the soil’, ‘Plant establishment’, ‘Rosette growth’, ‘Plant height’, ‘Seed production’ and ‘Plant senescence’. In Germany, S. arvensis has a rosette diameter measuring 34–58 cm and a height of 40–98 cm, although a height of up to 220 cm has been recorded in 2024 in Germany. Rosette diameter and plant height data indicate at least no smaller sizes compared to studies and plant metric data from other countries. Notably, 142 seeds per head were counted in Germany, indicating a source for successful spatial spreading. We address two knowledge gaps related to the research question in the title. One regarding whether vegetative growth contributes to the spread of S. arvensis , and another concerning how its phenological development is influenced by temperature and photoperiod. In addition, we recommend monitoring the species biology and ecology on agricultural fields in Germany.
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Brita Bye Taran Fæhn Lars Harald Gulbrandsen Kevin R. Kaushal Christian Wilhelm Mohr Gunnhild Søgaard Asbjørn Torvanger Jørgen Wettestad Knut ØistadAbstract
Abstract Norway has positioned itself as a climate policy forerunner by aiming to reach net-zero emissions already by 2030. However, the net-zero ambition is not well-defined, not legally binding, nor substantiated by action plans. In a first, interdisciplinary, analysis we scrutinise the net-zero concept and discuss unilateral options. Second, we provide an economic analysis with a global computable model, SNOW, of the costs and macroeconomic impacts of various policy scenarios. It explores how the net-zero ambition interacts with other 2030 goals and quantifies the impacts of emphasising domestic abatement and carbon removal measures vs. paying for emission mitigation abroad. Finally, the 2030 results are revisited to assess how well they align with Norwegian and global climate targets for 2050. The main findings are that pursuing the net-zero ambition, on top of other binding 2030 goals Norway is already committed to, will increase costs by 25–100% depending on the use of domestic measures. On the margin, domestic measures are found to have only small, uncertain, and costly mitigation potential, thus, buying international carbon credits will be inevitable. Besides being significantly cheaper, carbon trading can have the potential benefits of developing the credit markets and the individual projects’ qualities. Even if domestic measures can play but a modest part in the net-zero strategy towards 2030, we identify several steps governments unilaterally can take today to expand abatement opportunities towards mid-century. We also find measures that seem cost-effective in pursuing 2030 goals but look less attractive against a global 2050 backdrop.
Authors
Komi Mensah Agboka Frank Thomas Ndjomatchoua Ritter Atoundem Guimapi Luca Rossini Abdelmutalab G. A. Azrag Quinto Juma Meltus Tobias Landmann Sunday Ekesi Elfatih M. Abdel‐RahmanAbstract
The multitasking lesser mealworm ( Alphitobius diaperinus ) is a special beetle known as a pest in poultry, a resource for waste degradation and an alternative for protein production. This study compares the predictive accuracy of correlative species distribution models (SDMs) with a risk index derived from a mechanistic model. The study derives the mechanistic‐based risk index from the ordinary differential equation that describes the population dynamics of A. diaperinus using the temperature‐dependent bio‐demographic rates, while the ensemble SDM is derived using well‐known algorithms such as maximum entropy, random forest and so forth. We finally propose a hybrid model combining both approaches using a weighted average approach. When overlaid on occurrence data, the predictive accuracy of the mechanistic model globally varied across temporal scales, with the highest performance observed in the October–December quarter (27% of occurrences were predicted correctly). The comparison across geographic regions model had the best performance in Asia (94.4% accuracy), outperforming the two scenario SDMs (78.3%). In contrast, the correlative ensemble SDM performed better in Europe (93%), where we have most of the data, but was very sensitive to data gaps, especially in Africa. Finally, the proposed hybrid model outperforms both individual models in the global scenario (86.5% accuracy). These findings highlight the strengths and limitations of both modelling approaches and provide critical insights to optimise pest management strategies, sustainable utilisation and ecological forecasting by refining SDM through the integration of biological realism and empirical data.
Authors
Komi Mensah Agboka Frank Thomas Ndjomatchoua Luca Rossini Ritter Atoundem Guimapi Elfatih M. Abdel-RahmanAbstract
The biological life cycle of terrestrial arthropods, using temperature as the primary driving factor has a large interest for insect pests in agriculture, forestry, urban ecosystems, as constitutes the basics for the development of mathematical models for decision making. A recent study proposed a physiologically-based risk index (RI) which finds large applications in the definition of risk maps; however, further case studies are needed to better explore its strengths and limitations. This study aims to extend this knowledge by presenting an application of the RI on two economically significant pests: the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda and the stem borer Busseola fusca, major treats for maize production. • While the case of S. frugiperda follows the theoretical expectations, providing values RI > 1 for temperature ranges typical of the regions of its confirmed persistence, the model fails for B. fusca, as RI < 1 for weather conditions where field presence and damage are well-documented. • Accordingly, we trace the breakdown to limiting model assumptions, particularly temperature-only drivers, linear cause-and-effect biodemographic parameters, omission of seasonal dynamics, and reliance on laboratory parameters. • This dual-case contrast highlights both the potential and limitations of RI and calls for refinements that include a broader ecological realism and data availability.