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.
2009
Abstract
Growth of Norway spruce (Picea abies) trees and nitrogen deposition were analysed at about 500 forest plots throughout Norway in six fiveyear periods from 1977 to 2006. Growth was calculated from five repeated calliper measurements of all trees during this period and using treering series from increment cores of a subsample of trees. From the growth data a `relative growth` variable was extracted, being the deviation in % between observed and expected growth rates. The expected growth was estimated from growth models based on site productivity, age and stand density at each plot. The plots were categorized into four age classes. The nitrogen deposition was estimated for each plot for the same five year periods by geographical interpolation of deposition observations at monitoring stations made by the Norwegian Institute for Air Research. Nitrogen deposition from 1977 to 2006 ranged from 1 to 24 kg/ha/yr at the study plots, with about 15 kg/ha/yr in the southernmost region and 3 kg/ha/yr in the northern region of Norway. For the entire 30year period we found a long term relationship between growth and nitrogen deposition, corresponding to a forest growth increase of 0.7% per kg total nitrogen deposition per hectare and year (r2 = 0.13). This is in line with studies carried out on other data sets and for shorter time periods. This apparent fertilizing effect was most pronounced for the youngest forest, while the effect was weak for the oldest forest. The growth increase was observed in the southernmost part of Norway, the region with the highest nitrogen deposition. However, the relationship between nitrogen deposition and growth varied considerably between the time periods. In two of the periods the relationship was slightly negative: these periods corresponded well with summer droughts occurring in the southernmost part of Norway. Drought, as well as other climatic factors, will influence the shortterm variations in forest growth and may obscure the fertilizing effect of nitrogen deposition in some periods. In conclusion, nitrogen deposition has most likely increased growth in Norway spruce in southern Norway. However, our study also shows that inferences from such correlative studies should be drawn with care if the growth period is shorter than 10–15 years because climatic factors produce temporal variations in the relationship between nitrogen deposition and forest growth.
Authors
Martin Lorenz Richard Fischer Georg Becher Volker Mues Oliver Granke Tatyana Braslavskaya Alexey Bobrinsky Natalia Lukina Nicholas Clarke Zora Lachmanová Claus SchimmingAbstract
Of the 41 countries participating in ICP Forests, 27 countries reported national results of crown condition surveys in the year 2008 for 210 964 trees on 14 786 plots. The transnational result on the European-wide scale relied on 111 560 trees on 5 002 plots of the 16 x 16 km grid in 25 out of 35 participating countries. Mean defoliation of all sample trees of the transnational survey was 20.2%. Of the main species, Quercus robur and Q. petraea had by far the highest mean defoliation (24.9%), followed by Fagus sylvatica (19.4%), Picea abies (19.3%) and Pinus sylvestris (18.2%). These figures are not comparable to those of previous reports because of fluctuations in the plot sample, mainly due to changes in the participation of countries. Therefore, the long-term development of defoliation was calculated from the monitoring results of those countries which have been submitting data since 1990 every year without interruption. In the period of observation the species group Quercus ilex and Quercus rotundifolia shows the severest increase in defoliation, with 10.3% in 1990 and 21.2% in 2008. A similar increase in defoliation, namely from 11.1% to 20.4%, was experienced by Pinus pinaster. Defoliation of these Mediterranean species is largely attributed to several summer drought events. Defoliation of Fagus sylvatica increased from 17.9% to 19.7%. In contrast, Picea abies, Quercus robur and Quercus petraea and in particular Pinus sylvestris recuperated from peaks in defoliation in the mid 1990s. The spatial and temporal variation of bulk deposition and throughfall of sulphate, nitrate, ammonium, calcium, sodium and chlorine was analysed as a basis of ongoing and future studies. Between 174 and 302 intensive monitoring plots were involved in the study. Mean deposition of the years 2004 - 2006 shows spatial patterns reflecting partly regional emission situations. The temporal variation was calculated for the period 2001 - 2006. Sulphur throughfall decreased from 6.0 kg ha-1 yr-1 in 2001 to 4.5 kg ha-1 yr-1 in 2006. Bulk deposition of sulphur shows a similar decrease at a lower level, namely from 4.9 kg ha-1 yr-1 in 2001 to 3.6 kg ha-1 yr-1 in 2006 (corrected for sea salt input). Nitrogen deposition shows a less pronounced rate of decrease.
Authors
Rastislav Solár Miroslav Mamo Janka Dibdiakova Jarmila GeffertováAbstract
A series of comparable specimens of spruce wood were submitted to chemical pre-treatments. Chemical pre-treatments were carried out with diluted sodium hydroxide, or sodium hydroxide and then by hydrogen peroxide, or per-acetic acid. All pre-treatments modified the chemical composition of wood and led to its weight loss. The pre-treatments resulted in a complete deacetylation, and partial delignification of wood and did not cause apparent loss of cellulose. Chemical alterations of the pre-treated spruce wood were markedly reflected in its improved digestibility under conditions of kraft cook. The obtained pulps were characterized with apparently reduced content of residual lignin, lower yield, moderate drop in DP, higher brightness and better optical properties (colour and lightness) of both unbleached and bleached pulps.
Authors
Frode Flemsæter Gunhild SettenAbstract
In this paper we discuss relations between kinship, law, and property enactment. A recent revision of The Norwegian Act Relating to Concession in the Acquisition of Real Property is designed to influence the relation between subjects (property owners) and objects (properties) through ceasing the obligation of residency and cultivation on certain properties, which in turn is intended to increase sales prices of the respective properties. Drawing upon empirical research conducted in four Norwegian local authority districts, we argue that responsibility for past, present, and future generations of family or kin is highly important in property enactment. Although relations between subjects and objects are powerful and inform policy actions, relations between social subjects might be just as influential and powerful. When enacting properties, people may live in more complicated worlds than is often assumed. We assert that further research in legal geography and the emerging field of \"geographies of relatedness\" might profit from seeing kinship and property as coconstituted.
Authors
Peder GjerdrumAbstract
This report is an output from the Northern Periphery Programme project “Developing the Scots Pine Resource”. The overall aim of this project is to stimulate the development and optimal utilisation of the Scots pine resource as a basis for sustainable, competitive, small- and micro-scale rural industries. Describing and analysing existing markets is part of this task, and the objective of this report. The report covers the Scots pine roundwood trade in the northern parts of Scotland, Norway, Sweden and Finland, the area covered by the InterReg Northern Periphery Programme (NPP, www.northernperiphery.eu). It consists of four papers, one for each country, which have been prepared by the relevant project partners. Together they give a thorough overview of the Scots pine timber trade in north-west Europe.
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Frode FlemsæterAbstract
This paper examines emotional dilemmas occurring when Norwegian smallholdings are converted from permanent to second homes. These are properties that might have been in the family for generations as permanent homes, and which successors often feel obliged to take over and maintain by having them as second homes. Second homes are usually associated with `leisure and pleasure`, a retreat to `recharge the batteries`. However, this paper argues that having a smallholding which used to be your permanent home as a second home might involve emotional dilemmas, and it discusses relations between on the one hand, aspects of idyll and comfort and on the other hand, aspects of duty and responsibility. Further, the paper examines how emotional and social property relations influence how smallholdings as second homes become enacted.
Authors
Lone Ross GobakkenAbstract
Mould growth on exterior coated cladding façades is an undesirable element; it is considered to be major maintenance concern and will often shorten the aesthetical service life of the façade. On the other hand, rapid colonisation and colour change of unpainted wooden claddings is often anticipated and used as a design element. Wood is a biological building product, and individual components in a building will vary in appearance, properties and performance. Life expectancy of wood and wood-based products is related to a number of factors. Mould growth on painted surfaces is influenced by type and concentration of film fungicides, the paint formulation and the wood material, and wooden cladding may experience exponential fungal deterioration caused by variation in the climatic factors, often within a small limited area. The overall objective of this thesis was to gain in-depth knowledge about which factors influence surface mould growth on coated and uncoated wooden cladding in an outdoor environment, with a special attention to modified wood substrates. The work included identification of fungal species on the surface of coated substrates, studies of modified wood substrates\" susceptibility to mould growth, investigation of paints with different physical surface structures and their influence on surface mould growth, identification and quantification of factors that contribute to variation in surface mould growth and prediction of future performance of combinations of wood substrates and coating systems.....
Authors
Erlend NybakkAbstract
In order to uphold economic growth and employment in the districts and nationally, one is dependent on small and competitive firms and sole owner enterprises. These represent the majority of firms and are a vital source for new creativity and development in both traditional and new sectors. How one should promote entrepreneurship and innovation among these companies has been a central theme in political debates. The foremost goal with this thesis is to advance knowledge about the factors that trigger creativity and innovation in small firms, with the main focus on firms that offer non-timber forest products and services (NTFP&S). Article I was based on a questionnaire for forest owners in Telemark, Vest-Agder and Aust-Agder (three counties in east Norway) and shows that the likelihood of starting up with NTFP&S is greater among forest owners that recognize opportunities and are risk takers. Articles II and III were based on a questionnaire for firms that work with nature-based tourism. The first of them builds on Article I and shows that forest owners that recognize opportunity and are risk takers have a greater likelihood of changing the way they supply their products and services. Article III shows the effect of external relationships on innovation and how innovation affects economic accomplishment. The relationships are also exemplified by a case study. Article IV was based on a study of a random selection of forest owners with more than 25 hectares of forest in souteast Norway. The study shows that external relationships and learning orientation have a positive effect on innovation and again on economic success among forest owners, related to NTFP&S. Article V was based on a questionnaire for small, knowledge-intensive firms and shows the impact of external relationships on product, process and market innovation. Each of the articles presents implications of the findings and suggestions for further research.
Authors
Erlend Ystrøm Haartveit Leif Kjøstelsen Egil Roar RavnemyhrAbstract
Measuring logistics costs for individual products or product groups is a significant challenge. One frequently applied method is Activity Based Costing approach where costs are allocated to products according to the resources and cost they induce. The Norwegian project Woodflow has been working on measuring time consumption for logistics processes for wood products such as lumber, beams, claddings, panels and moulds. Low degree of standardisation within and between manufacturers makes it problematic to convert time and performance measures from one unit of measurement to others. Logistics costs are difficult to allocate to products and are in commonly presented for the complete material flow. The existing data could not be used for calculation of logistics costs for wood products. Different methods have been used to measure time and resources for the processes in the supply chain. Even if the process is correctly measured, it is still be a challenge to allocate costs to products, for example when a carrier contains a large number of different products. The performance measures presented have been developed for Optimera AS, a vertically integrated distributor of construction products. The company owns several distribution centres and more than 70 stores in Norway. A test of the measurements will be conducted in a small part of the distribution system. The logistics costs of supplying the stores from the distribution centre will be compared with directly transporting the lumber from the supplier to the retail outlets.