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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.

2007

Abstract

In collaboration with the NARC platform at Ås, we have taken the Norway spruce phytochrome and PaChi4 promoters and introduced them into Arabidopsis using GFP and YFP expression vectors in order to study their effect on expression under long and short day treatment. Said in other words we use of GFP and YFP as reporters and Arabidopsis as a host for the Norway spruce promoters in order to study their possible regulation by day-length in this model plant system. In completely separate experiments in collaboration with the NARC platform at Ås, we have introduced the Norway spruce glycohydrolase PaChi4 into Arabidopsis to examine what effect this might have on the response to wounding and to pathogens. The PaChi4 enzyme is produced at very high levels in tissues with high level of host cell death (PCD) following fungal infections and it might be a marker for or directly involved in PCD. We have obtained transgenic plants and the first examination for any day-length dependent expression of the GFP and YFP reporters in the transgenic Arabidopsis lines is currently being pursued while the examination of the PAChi4 enzyme overexpressing lines are yet to be initiated.

Abstract

The study aims to estimate the effects on the sheep farm economy of reducing grazing levels necessitated due to possible overgrazing by sheep on two important mountainous range pastures in southwest Norway. The pasture range in Setesdal Vesthei is grazed by sheep from distant farms located at Jæren (south of Stavanger), while south-western Hardangervidda is grazed by sheep from local farms and distant farms located along the coast. Farmers utilizing the pasture areas combine sheep with dairy cows, off farm work or businesses, while the local farms combine it with orchards. A Linear Programming (LP) model for specialized sheep farms based on farm records has been developed to study effects of reaching various grazing capacity levels. Reducing the number of sheep in Setesdal Vesthei by 10 percent would lower farm income per breeding stock animal with € 15 to € 119 and with € 35 to € 211 for Hardangervidda. The decrease in annual income will range from € 15,00 to € 119,00 in total for the farms using Setesdal Vesthei. The economic effects depend much on meat production per ewe. Replacing unilateral sheep grazing with a mixed system involving suckling goats and heifers is discussed to deal with the problems of encroachment and increasing elevation of the alpine tree-line.

Abstract

It is generally recommended that solutions for the treatment of wastewater and toilet waste is based on a detailed knowledge of the local physical and natural conditions as well as socio-economical factors and socio-cultural factors. Based on experience from previous comparable projects the following components are recommended: " The systems should be build as large as possible based on local natural/financial resources " Infiltration systems are preferred if local soil is usable and local water resources are protected " A combination with pre-treatment, compact filtering and extensive filtering in wetlands or peat filters Based on experience from previous comparable projects the following components might also be recommended given a local acceptance: " Urine separating toilets without water/low water consumption " Separate collection of urine in tanks to be stored and reused or safely disposed off " Toilet solid waste to be stored in separate tanks and co-treated with other organic waste fractions " Separate treatment of greywater and urine in extensive infiltration or filter systems These systems makes it possible to a safe, odour free and recycling waste and wastewater treatment without creating unacceptable loads on the environment or risks to human health. Infiltration systems depend on local soils and previous use of ground water.

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Abstract

In some parts of the world, the soil selenium (Se) content is too low to ensure the Se level recommended for human or animal consumption in the crops produced. In order to secure a desired concentration of Se in crops, Se has been applied as mineral fertilizer to agricultural fields. Since only a minor part of the inorganic Se applied is utilized by plants and small increases in Se concentrations in, e.g., drinking water, may be toxic, the method is somewhat controversial. As an alternative to Se-enriched mineral fertilizer, different seafood-processing wastes have been examined as a source for Se in crop production. Both in greenhouse pot experiments and field trials the Se in seafood waste was not plant-available during the first growing season. There was no significant difference between the Se concentration in wheat growing in soil without added Se and in soil receiving Se from seafood waste in amounts ranging from 0.9 to 9 g ha(-1). Neither was any residual effect of Se in seafood waste seen during a second year growth period. Thus, seafood-processing waste cannot be regarded as a potential source of Se in crop production. Possible mobilization of formerly applied Se, as seafood-processing waste or Se enriched mineral fertilizer due to changes in soil redox conditions were examined in a leaching experiment. The mobility of formerly applied Se was generally very low, but the results indicated that under permanently wet soil conditions leaching of Se may occur in plant dormant periods in soils with low organic matter content and high pH.

Abstract

A review of research and research needs in urban forestry was carried out in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Norway and Sweden during 2005. A questionnaire addressing post-2000 and ongoing research was sent to 146 researchers and generated 76 completed questionnaires. Universities were found to lead urban forestry research, while municipalities headed funding organisations in terms of number of projects funded. Planning, ecological and management aspects were the most common research themes, but socially oriented research also played an important role. The research needs questionnaire was sent to 192 key research actors (assignors, users and researchers), resulting in 63 completed needs assessments. The research themes of ‘urban forest management\", ‘social and cultural values\" and ‘urban forest and green planning\" were prioritised for future research. Comparison of ongoing research and research needs showed discrepancies, as ongoing research does not always cover the same themes identified as primary research needs. Priorities for future research as identified by the research community respective those assigning and using research also differed. Economic assessment of benefits, for example, scored much higher as a need among researchers than other respondents. In terms of present weaknesses in the research ‘infrastructure\", research actors emphasised lack of funding, fragmentation of research and insufficient critical mass. The region\"s urban forestry research can be enhanced and made more meaningful by strengthening national and international networking within the research community, across disciplines, as well as between researchers and those commissioning and using research.

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Abstract

After two decades of monitoring forest health in Europe, in response to concern for negative effects of air pollution, a similar worry is now increasing in China. In a co-operative project between Chinese and Norwegian researchers a forest monitoring was implemented in the acid rain region in south China. During 2000–2004 two small watersheds were monitored: TieShanPing (TSP) near ChongQing City and LuChongGuan (LCG) near GuiYang City. They are covered by Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) forest. The methodology of the European intensive forest monitoring programme (ICP-Forests level-II) was adopted; including crown assessments, foliar chemistry, air and soil chemistry, and more. This paper presents results of this co-operative project. Considerable forest damage was revealed by monitoring the crown condition of Masson pine trees. The average defoliation percentage for all assessed trees (predominant, dominant and co-dominant pines, corresponding to Kraft classes 1–3) in the more acidified TSP was over 40% and remained stable throughout the monitoring period, accompanied by an extremely high mortality in some years. In contrast, the defoliation in the less acidified LCG was relatively low but increased considerably, from 16% to around 40%, within the 4 monitoring years. The significance of air pollution for the forest damage remains uncertain. The annual SO2 concentration in TSP and LCG is about 2 and 4 times higher than the critical level of 20 μg m−3 given in the LRTAP convention for effects on forests. Therefore the air pollution effects cannot be ruled out as contributing factors for forest damage. However, this cannot be substantiated based on the presented monitoring data since none of the specific symptoms of air pollution damage were observed. Furthermore, an analysis of the monitoring data did not reveal any significant correlation between defoliation and the soil chemical properties. It is noteworthy that the evident agents that were identified are capable of causing the observed forest damage. These agents were insect attacks and climatic stress. It is possible that the forest damage has complex causes.

Abstract

Norway has strong and competent institutions and lobby organisations for hydro and oil/gas. It has been difficult for renewables to reach the political agenda. The situation in 2007 is quite different compared with 10 years ago, now the knowledge about and political power of bioenergy is improved. The demonstration value of the Gardermoen project and the informational, educational and public relations work of the Energy Farm are important contributions to this changed situation. Climate change is of course another factor of large importance. The two case-studies, Gardermoen bioenergy plant and the Energy Farm, demonstrate that there are many other factors that prices/costs that influences bioenergy implementation.