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
Authors
Mikael Frisk Mikael Rönnqvist Mikael RönnqvistAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Sigrun H. Kværnø Lars Egil Haugen Trond BørresenAbstract
The ability to predict the timing of optimum soil workability depends on knowledge of the extent and structure of variability in main physical characteristics of the soil. Our objectives were to quantify the variability in texture and carbon content within soil map units in a small agriculture-dominated catchment in South-east Norway and to assess implications of variability in texture and carbon content on land management operations, using the predicted maximum water content for optimum workability as an example. Information from three different sources were used: a soil map (1:5000), a large sample grid (100 m spacing, 270 ha extent), and a small sample grid (10 m spacing, 2.25 ha extent). Readily available information on texture and organic matter content from the soil map was found to be of limited use for soil management due to broad textural classes together with deviations from the mapped main textural classes. There were significant differences in clay, silt and sand content between the different soil textural classes on the soil map. Statistical distributions within soil map units were generally either positively or negatively skewed and the coefficient of variation was intermediate, 15-50%. Most of the variation in both grids was spatially correlated. The large grid was dominated by a patchy structure, whilst the small grid showed a systematic trend with a gradual transition indicating fuzzy boundaries between map units in this catchment. The effective range for texture was 16 times larger in the large grid. Implications of variability in texture and carbon content on land management operations were assessed for the maximum water content for optimum workability (Wopt), predicted using pedotransfer functions. Wopt was usually in the same range as the water content at-100 kPa matric potential, indicating that considerable evaporation in addition to drainage is required for obtaining workable conditions in the field. The time required for obtaining the water content was estimated to about 5 days, which is longer than an average length of periods without precipitation in the area, median 3.7 days. Wopt predicted from the soil map deviated strongly from Wopt predicted from the sample grids. Comparing estimates of Wopt from the large grid with measurements in the small grid showed differences corresponding to +/-2-3 days of evaporation. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Authors
Lena Finér Helja-Sisko Helmisaari Krista Lohmus Hooshang Majdi Ivano Brunner Isabella Børja Toril Drabløs Eldhuset Douglas L. Godbold Tine Grebenc Bohdan Konôpka Hojka Kraigher Merja Möttönen Mizue Ohashi J Oleksyn Ivika Ostonen V Uri Elena VanguelovaAbstract
Fine roots (2 mm) are very dynamic and play a key role in forest ecosystem carbon and nutrient cycling and accumulation. We reviewed root biomass data of three main European tree species European beech, (Fagus sylvatica L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), in order to identify the differences between species, and within and between vegetation zones, and to show the relationships between root biomass and the climatic, site and stand factors.The collected literature consisted of data from 36 beech, 71 spruce and 43 pine stands. The mean fine root biomass of beech was 389 g m-2, and that of spruce and pine 297 g m-2 and 277 g m-2, respectively. Data from pine stands supported the hypothesis that root biomass is higher in the temperate than in the boreal zone.The results indicated that the root biomass of deciduous trees is higher than that of conifers. The correlations between root biomass and site fertility characteristics seemed to be species specific. There was no correlation between soil acidity and root biomass. Beech fine root biomass decreased with stand age whereas pine root biomass increased with stand age. Fine root biomass at tree level correlated better than stand level root biomass with stand characteristics. The results showed that there exists a strong relationship between the fine root biomass and the above-ground biomass.
Authors
Leena Finér Heljä-Sisko Helmisaari Krista Lõhmus Hooshang Majdi Ivano Brunner Isabella Børja Toril Drabløs Eldhuset Douglas Lawrence Godbold Tine Grebenc Bohdan Konôpka Hojka Kraigher M.-R. Möttönen J. Oleksyn Ivika Ostonen V. Uri Elena Iordanova VanguelovaAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Abstract
Genetic- and environmental variation and correlation patterns were characterized for modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR) and related wood traits: latewood proportion, wood density, spiral grain, microfibril angle and lignin content in five full-sib families of Norway spruce.The families were evaluated on the basis of clearwood specimens from the juvenile -mature wood transition zone of 93 sampled trees at age 30 year from seed. Family-means varied significantly (p 0.05) for all wood traits studied except lignin content. MOE varied between 7.9-14.1 GPa among trees and 9.4-11.0 GPa among families. MOR varied between 47-87 MPa among trees and 61-71 MPa among families.Families remained significantly different in an analysis of specific MOE (MOE/density) and MOR (MOR/density). Hence, solely relying on wood density as a wood quality trait in tree breeding would not fully yield the potential genetic gain for MOE and MOR. Correlations between wood structural traits and specific MOE and MOR are presented and discussed.
Abstract
Studies of defense mechanisms in Norway spruce Picea abies against the spruce bark beetle Ips typographus show that inducible defenses are triggered by unsuccessful beetle attacks. Moreover, spruce trees can be vaccinated against bark beetle attacks through stem bark inoculation with Ceratocystis polonica, an aggressive fungal associate of Ips typographus. Artificial inoculation with certain other fungi has a similar effect, making treated trees a tougher mach for attacking beetles. A similar enhancement of resistance can be achieved by stem surface treatment with methyl jasmonate. Enhanced resistance is associated with the formation of traumatic resin ducts, and mobilization of phenolic substances in living parenchyma cells. The phenolics appear to mix with the traumatic resin. Similar mechanisms are operating in other conifers. We hypothesize that unsuccessful beetle attacks produce a vaccination effect in the trees, enhancing their resistance to later attack. Adding the effect of induced resistance as a model factor shows an immediate effect on the population dynamics of Ips typographus.
Authors
Ievina Sturite Trond Maukon Henriksen Tor Arvid BrelandAbstract
We have studied to what degree Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis L.) are able to preserve nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) in shoots and roots from one growing season to the next in a northern temperate climate. Field experiments were performed during four consecutive winters in central southeast Norway (60 degrees 42'N, 10 degrees 51'E), and N and P in plant biomass were measured in the autumn and in the spring. We also measured the contents of total N, total P and organic carbon (C) in seepage water that percolated through the aboveground plant material. Uptake of N and P in Italian ryegrass and white clover was substantially larger than in meadow fescue. The winter losses varied greatly from year to year, depending on the winter climate. On the average for all three of the plant species, the winter losses of N from aboveground biomass were 6, 35, 68 and 10% in the four experimental years, respectively. The corresponding P losses were 11, 36, 60 and 22%. On the average for all plant species and experimental years, 43 (+/- 12)% (S.E., n = 12) of the N, 34 (+/- 9)% of the P and 4 (+/- 1)% of the C that was lost from the aboveground plant biomass during the winter, was recovered in seepage water, basically as a nutrient pulse in melt water in early spring. The very low C recovery rate in seepage water suggested a considerable microbial growth on lost plant C. Assuming that all un-recovered plant C was consumed by microorganisms not included in measurements of the seepage water, modelling showed that microbial immobilisation theoretically might explain the unexpectedly low recovery rates of N and P. The study was not designed to investigate the possible effects of psychrophilic microbes on N and P cycling. Therefore, it is inconclusive and underlines the need for more knowledge on this matter. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Abstract
Furfurylated wood (wood modified by furfuryl alcohol) has over the last years gained marked shares from both tropical wood and conventional preservative treated wood and this has, in turn, generated several research projects concerning process development. The impregnation of spruce is well known from literature to be a difficult task. Furthermore, the sapwood of Scandinavian grown Scots pine is also known to be difficult to fully impregnate from time to time. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate whether the Oscillating Pressure Method (OPM) could be used to impregnate green and dry Norway spruce wood (Picea abies) with a Furfuryl alcohol (FA) - mixture. The secondary objective of the study was to evaluate if OPM could improve the penetration of FA in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) as compared to conventional full cell (Bethell) treatment. Impregnation tests were carried out on boards and planks as well as 300 mm and 500 mm clear wood samples. Samples were removed for MC measurement and the initial weight of the test samples was determined. Four different impregnation schemes were tested. The results indicate that Norway spruce can be impregnated by the OPM method to produce a protective shell of treated wood around a core of untreated wood. The penetration in Spruce showed great variation between different boards and between different parts of the individual boards. This is in part expected, but can also be caused by uncontrolled pre drying of the test material which was stacked uncovered after sawing. For Scots pine, the OPM improved the penetration of both sapwood and, to some extent, the outer heartwood.
Abstract
The objective was to evaluate whether Lowry-impregnation of Scots pine with FA100-mix, instead of the FA40-mix, would lead to similar or slightly higher WPGs and to investigate any potential changes in penetration pattern. The results indicate that the penetration was better, also penetrating the outer zone of the heartwood. Furthermore, it was possible to reduce the WPG-levels for pine down to 50-70% (corresponding to PFA retentions of 260- 315 kg/m³) from 120% (approx. 550 kg/m³) with full-cell impregnation using FA100-mix. Using the Lowry process with FA100-mix would probably be a possible treating schedule for products aimed for use in ground contact. The reduced content of hygroscopic salts in the furfurylated wood product would also further reduce hygroscopisity compared with FA-40 mix. However, more trials are needed in order to optimize penetration while still keeping the final WPG low.