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
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
There is an increasing global production and demand for biodegradable plastics. But there are still many uncertainties about how and to what extent these plastics degrade and their environmental impacts. To gain a better understanding of these aspects, the Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM) has conducted a self-initiated scoping review of existing scientific literature on biodegradable plastics and their environmental impacts. VKM has specifically focused on studies that are relevant to Norwegian and Nordic conditions. The first literature search (June 2024) revealed 2428 international research studies, including primary studies and systematic and non-systematic review articles. The primary studies were divided into three categories: materials, microbiology and ecotoxicology, based on the main focus of the studies. From each category, a quarter of the primary studies and non-systematic review articles were randomly selected for full text analysis. A total of 168 articles were included in the final mapping. A new literature search (October 2025), with a focus on Nordic research and particularly Norwegian conditions, revealed 178 articles, of which 19 were subject to further analysis. The most studied types of biodegradable plastics were polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT). Many of the studies focused on the degradation process of biodegradable mulch film used in agriculture, and how their use affects the environmental conditions in agricultural soils. Most studies reported incomplete degradation during the trial period, which underlines the concern for accumulation of plastic material with repeated use. Other studies simulated different pollution scenarios, such as lost fishing gear, an area that has received attention in recent Nordic studies. Ecotoxicological effects of biodegradable plastics were often only observed at concentrations far above those expected to occur in natural environments. There were indications that effects observed in soil and aquatic ecosystems could just as well be indirect, resulting from changes in physical and chemical properties of soil and water. In general, the effects of biodegradable plastics are comparable to those of conventional (micro)plastics in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. However, there were studies that suggest that biodegradable plastics are more toxic than conventional plastics under specific conditions, such as after UV exposure, or for certain test organisms. Testing the ecotoxicity of commercial biodegradable plastics was complicated by the lack of transparency about their chemical composition. Only a minority of studies investigated the ecotoxicity of chemical substances leaching from plastic materials, and the results reported were inconsistent. There is a lack of studies that combined degradation studies with toxicological effects. This knowledge gap has also been pointed out in systematic review articles. The review revealed several weaknesses in the existing research, related to study design, analytical methods, definitions and terminology. Current research practice provides many individual studies that are difficult to compare. Thus, they provide limited insight into how degradation and environmental impact occur over time, and in different environments. The review points to the need for strengthened and standardized research, so that the knowledge base becomes more robust and a better understanding of the environmental impact of plastics over time and in different environments can be gained.
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.
Authors
Kateřina Hamouzová Pavlína Košnarová Madhab Kumar Sen Soham Bhattacharya Michaela Kolářová Lena Ulber Dagmar Rissel Björn Ringselle Wiktoria Kaczmarek-Derda Pavel Hamouz Josef SoukupAbstract
Tripleurospermum inodorum (L.) Sch. Bip. is a widespread weed in cereal production systems across Europe and has evolved resistance to acetolactate synthase (ALS)‐inhibiting herbicides in several Northern and Central European countries. This study identified and characterised resistance to the ALS‐inhibiting herbicides tribenuron‐methyl and florasulam in eight populations of T. inodorum from the Czech Republic, Germany, Norway and Sweden. The two Czech populations, with Pro‐197‐Gln + Pro‐197‐Ala substitutions in one population (CZ1) and a Pro‐197‐Thr substitution in the second population (CZ2), differed in their response to tribenuron‐methyl: CZ1 showed low resistance (resistance factor, RF: 5.2), while CZ2 exhibited high resistance (RF: > 53). However, both showed similar and low resistance to florasulam (RF: 2.5 and 3.9, respectively). The two German populations also showed contrasting responses: one population, with a Pro‐197‐Leu substitution, exhibited low resistance to both ALS inhibitors (RF: 2.8 for tribenuron‐methyl and 3.3 for florasulam), whereas the other population, with a Pro‐197‐Thr substitution, displayed high resistance to both herbicides (RF: > 53 and 12.9, respectively). Norwegian populations with a Pro‐197‐Tyr substitution and Swedish populations with Pro‐197‐Thr or Pro‐197‐Gln substitutions exhibited high resistance to tribenuron‐methyl (RF: 15.2–> 53), but only low resistance to florasulam (RF: 2.5–4.8). Geographic patterns in substitution types were evident, with Nordic populations predominantly exhibiting polar substitutions and Central European populations showing a mix of polar and non‐polar substitutions, suggesting divergent resistance evolution pathways. Notably, except for the Pro197Gln mutation, all other identified mutations have not been previously reported in T. inodorum . Overall, these results highlight the need for region‐specific resistance management strategies.
Authors
Eirik Inge Mikkelsen Cornelya Klutsch Gunnar Sander Patrick Berg Sørdahl Ingrid Kvalvik Sigrid Engen Charlotte Teresa Weber Camilla Carlsten Mittenzwei Vito De LuciaAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Jo Jorem AarsethAbstract
Side-eventet samlet aktører fra alle sektorer som berøres av det grønne skiftet og behovet for ny grønn industri i nord.
Abstract
No abstract has been registered