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
Abstract
Cover crops enhance soil quality and organic matter stability, yet the mechanisms linking belowground inputs to persistent soil organic matter (SOM) remain unclear. This study examined the effects of diversified cover cropping in barley systems on root biomass, SOM fractions, soil structure, microbial activity, and yield in central Norway (63.9° N), three years post-implementation. Six treatments were tested: (1) Control (barley without NPK), (2) Biochar-Fertilizer (barley + NPK + 3 Mg ha⁻¹ biochar), (3) Monocrop (barley), (4) Ryegrass (barley + ryegrass), (5) Clover (barley + ryegrass + white/red clover), and (6) Chicory (barley + ryegrass + red clover + chicory + bird’s-foot trefoil). Ryegrass and Clover systems produced 28.65 g m-² more root biomass at 0–13 cm (p < 0.05) and, along with Monocrop, stored 2.2 Mg ha-¹ more mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) carbon and 0.2 Mg ha-¹ more MAOM nitrogen at 0–20 cm than other treatments. The Chicory system improved soil structure and biology, with higher aggregate stability, lower bulk density, and greater microbial abundance. Barley yields remained consistent across treatments, suggesting that cover cropping and low biochar inputs do not reduce productivity. Strong correlations (p < 0.01) between root biomass and MAOM stocks highlight root development as a key driver of SOM stabilization via organo-mineral associations. These findings underscore the role of root-enhancing cover crops in promoting MAOM formation and long-term SOM persistence, offering valuable insights for sustainable soil management.
Authors
Sissel Hansen Synnøve Rivedal Samson Øpstad Johannes Deelstra Trond Børresen Torfinn Torp Peter DörschAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Abstract
Potato field management in Europe is already optimized for high production and tuber quality; however, numerous environmental challenges remain if the industry is to achieve “green economy” targets, such as less resources utilized, and less nitrate leached to the environment. Strategic co-scheduling irrigation and nitrogen (N) fertilization might increase resource use efficiency while minimizing reactive losses such as nitrate leaching. This study aimed to quantify the combined effect of irrigation and N fertilization on potato production, growth, and resource use efficiencies. A field experiment was conducted from 2017 to 2019 on a coarse sandy soil in Denmark, with a drought event occurring in 2018. Full (Ifull, maximized), deficit (Idef, 70–80 % of Ifull) and low irrigation treatments (Ilow, minimized amount to keep crop survival), each under full (Nfull, maximized) and variable (Nvar, variable amount according to the crops’ needs) N fertilization were applied. The analyses results show that Ilow limited potato growth under a drought-heat event; otherwise, potato growth was comparable between Ifull and Idef treatments, with 31–32 % higher irrigation efficiency (IE) under Idef than under Ifull. Nitrate leaching was variable and not significantly different among the treatments, being in general 9–13 % lower under Idef in absolute terms than under Ifull. Unexpectedly, outcomes from Nvar were statistically lower compared to those from Nfull. Radiation use efficiencies (RUEs) from Ilow and Nvar were significantly lower than from Ifull and Idef (14–19 %), and from Nfull (9–11 %). N use efficiencies (NUE) were comparable between N fertilization treatments but significantly different among different irrigation treatments. Overall, this study confirms that Idef is the best irrigation strategy. Future efforts should focus on developing improved approaches for detecting in-season crop N status and further quantifying N requirements, as well as promoting the co-scheduled management of irrigation and N fertilization. Remote sensing approaches have great potential to assist with this.
2025
Abstract
The poor persistence and late flowering of red clover in northern Swedish leys presents challenges for ley longevity and floral resource availability. The inclusion of wild, native legume species with longer persistence, rhizomatous growth, and early flowering in leys could help to resolve these challenges. The nutritive value of four native legume species was evaluated when sown in mixed stands subjected to varying harvest frequencies. Across the first two years of data collection, Vicia sepium and Vicia cracca demonstrated promising nutritive value, while the poor digestibility of Lathyrus pratensis may inhibit its use as a forage for ruminant feed. This study demonstrates promising potential for wild legume species to increase ley diversity while maintaining the quality of the harvested forage.
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted in 2022–2023 and repeated in 2023–2024, estimating plant coverages using digital processing of autumn and spring aerial images to determine fertilizer rates. Three fixed and two variable manure and mineral N rates were applied in early spring and after the first cut. Dry matter yield (DMY) and agronomic efficiency (AE) were evaluated over two seasons. A low or variable N rate based on spring coverage led to DMY and AE comparable to high N rates. Autumn coverage in the second season improved slurry application decisions, offering a valuable tool for grassland management.
Authors
C. Chiodi G. Zardinoni P. Stevanato L. Giagnoni P. Carletti N. Oustrière Arne Sæbø Tomas Persson W. Szulc B. Rutkowska M. Mench G. RenellaAbstract
Background Soil contamination with metal(loid)s and organic pollutants creates environmental and health concerns, driving the need for sustainable remediation strategies. Organic amendments can mitigate contamination effects, enhancing soil quality, and potentially increasing biomass production; however, their long-term influence remains an open question. In a five-year field experiment at a former wood-preservation site, this study evaluates the effects of five organic amendments—fresh pig manure (PM), biodigested pig manure (PD), compost (C), compost pellets (Pt), and green waste compost (G)—on Cu-contaminated soils. Here, we evaluated their impacts on physico-chemical soil properties, metal bioavailability, microbial community structure, plant growth and soil fertility. Results All amendments led to an overall soil improvement, including enhanced physico-chemical properties, increased enzyme activities. The amendments promoted the concentration of soil 16S bacterial genes and improved the yield of winter barley cultivated in the plots. The most abundant phyla detected across soil samples were Actinobacteriota , Proteobacteria , and Firmicutes , with Bacillus , Streptomyces , and Bradyrhizobium among the dominant genera. Compost-based amendments at 5% w/w addition rate (C5 and Pt5) showed the most promising results, significantly increasing soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus contents, while reducing bioavailability of Cd, Ni, Pb, and Zn compared with untreated control plots ( p < 0.01). A decrease in Cu availability was observed but it was not significant. The Pt5 soils exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene copy number ( p < 0.01). Both compost and compost pellets amendments enriched microbial communities associated with soil quality and plant yield, leading to significant improvements in soil fertility and barley yield (+ 200% on average). Conclusion This integrative approach identified organic amendments, notably compost and pelleted compost, that effectively contribute to soil remediation from multiple perspectives: chemical properties (pH, organic content, nutrients), reduction of bioavailable soil Cd and Zn, enzyme activities, microbial abundance and diversity (16S rRNA), and winter barley yield. The study evidenced signature biomarkers characteristic of healthy soils ( Paenibacillus , Lysinibacillus , and Agromyces ) and polluted soils ( Candidatus Solibacter and Mycobacterium ). Our findings support the use of compost (raw and pelleted) as a balanced approach for phyto-managing metal-contaminated soils, reducing 1 M NH 4 NO 3 -extractable soil Cd and Zn while enhancing microbial activity and soil fertility. Graphical Abstract
Authors
Shimelis Gizachew Raji Bimrew Asmare Yohannes Ewunetu Tesema Dangura Marit Jørgensen Yonas BerhanuAbstract
Context Tropical forages can improve livestock productivity while reducing methane emissions in smallholder crop–livestock systems. Aims This study evaluated forage mass, forage quality, methane mitigation potential of 12 tropical species at two contrasting sites in the Ethiopian highlands: Hawassa in the south and Bahir Dar in the north. Methods Field experiments were conducted from 2021 to 2023, with two to four cuts per year by using a randomized complete block design. Plant samples were also evaluated for chemical composition and in vitro methane production. Key results Results showed significant site-specific variations, with desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) demonstrating consistently high forage mass production (27.3 Mg ha−1 at Hawassa; 17.58 Mg ha−1 at Bahir Dar) across these environments. Legumes, particularly sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) and lablab (Lablab purpureus L.), exhibited the highest crude protein yield (590–1300 kg ha−1 year−1) but lower forage production, highlighting their role as supplemental feed sources. Methane mitigation potential also exhibited variations, with lablab, Mombasa (Megathyrsus maximus) and desho producing the lowest emissions (<16%), whereas high-emission species such as Greenleaf desmodium (Desmodium intortum) (>27%) warrant further evaluation. Conclusions The study identified desho and Mombasa as promising options for site-specific forage development because of their dual benefits of productivity and in vitro methane mitigation. Legumes such as sunnhemp and lablab are recommended as high-quality supplements to existing feeding strategies. Implications These findings have provided actionable insights for extension officers, policy makers and researchers seeking to balance livestock productivity with environmental sustainability in Ethiopian highlands. Future research should focus on validating methane mitigation potential under in vivo conditions and addressing challenges in legume establishment.
Authors
Åsmund Mikalsen KvifteAbstract
Presentasjon av NIBIO, NIBIO Fureneset og noko om jord og nedbryting
Authors
Ievina SturiteAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Marius Dobbe Klemetsen Marte Marie Fossum Ranvik Thomas Georges A Bawin Sigridur Dalmannsdottir Sangharsha Thapa El Houssaine Bouras Sylvain Poque Andrius Aleliūnas Rita Armoniene Egli Norkevičienė Kristiina Himanen Svante Resjö Qinlin Xiao Ameneh Khani Thomas G. Roitsch Erik Alexandersson Sajeevan R. SivarajanAbstract
No abstract has been registered