Hesam Mousavi

• Hosseinpour, Shayan; Bagherikia, Saeed; Soughi, Habiballah; Pirdashti, Hemmatollah & Mousavi, Hesam (2024). A scrutiny of plasticity management in irrigated wheat systems under CMIP6 earth system models (case study: Golestan Province, Iran). Theoretical and Applied Climatology. ISSN 0177-798X. doi: 10.1007/s00704-024-04902-0. Show summary

  Abstract Global wheat production has faced, and will persist in encountering many challenges. Therefore, developing a dynamic cultivation approach generated through modeling is crucial to coping with the challenges in specific districts. The modeling can contribute to achieving global objectives of farmers’ financial independence and food security by enhancing the cropping systems. The current study aims to assess the effects of cultivars and sowing windows intricately on irrigated wheat production using the two models from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6), including ACCES-CM2 and HadGEM31-LL under two shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP245, and SSP585). A two-year on-farm experiment was conducted for parametrization and validation of the APSIM-Wheat model at two locations. The model reasonably simulated the days to anthesis, maturity, biomass production, and yield within all cultivars. The normalized root-mean-square error (RMSE) of the phenological stages was simulated and measured values were 5% and 2–4%, while the index of agreement (IOA) was in the range of 0.84–0.88 and 0.95–0.97. An acceptable agreement of the simulated biomass (RMSE = 5–7% and 0.91–0.78) and yield (RMSE = 6–11% and IOA = 0.70–0.94) was identified in the model. Afterward, the LARS-WG model generated the baseline (2000–2014) based on the weather data at the sites and projected the models for the near (2030–2049) and remote future (2050–2070). The models revealed that not only the average maximum and minimum temperatures will rise by 1.85 °C and 1.62 °C which will exacerbate the reference evapotranspiration (ET0), but also the precipitation and solar radiation will reach + 58%, and + 0.25 Mj m−2. Our results clearly showed that precipitation volume over the growing seasons would elevate approximately two times as much as the baseline in the future, while there is a significant decrease in water productivity (WP) and yield from the intensive ET0. Based on the wheat simulation, the short-duration cultivar (Kalate) combined with the postponed planting (16-Dec) was determined as a practical alternative; nonetheless, both WP and yield significantly decreased by 40% and 7%, respectively (p 

• Mousavi, Hesam; Cottis, Thomas & Solberg, Svein Øivind (2023). Nitrogen Enriched Organic fertilizer (NEO) elevates nitrification rates shortly after application but has no lasting effect on nitrification in agricultural soils. Agricultural and Food Science. ISSN 1459-6067. 32(4), p. 179–194. doi: 10.23986/afsci.131722. Show summary

  In the face of population growth, rising food production costs, limited arable land availability, and environmental degradation of farmlands, adopting innovative technologies, particularly those related to organic waste recycling and nutrient recovery, has emerged as an imperative strategy. These technologies are crucial in bolstering the resilience of global agri-food systems. Nitrogen-Enriched Organic fertilizer (NEO) is produced using a new method, where dinitrogen (N2) is captured from the air through a plasma process and mixed with slurries or digestates as nitrate (NO3-) and nitrite (NO2-). This process leads to solid slurry acidification and a high NO2- content, potentiallyyielding toxic inorganic or organic N compounds. In this study, we investigated the impact of NEO derived from cattle slurry and biogas digestate on soil nitrification, which involves the conversion of NH4+ to NO2- and NO3- by aerobic autotrophic bacteria and archaea. We investigated and compared the potential nitrification rates in soil samples from two agricultural trials (cereal and grass) treated with NEO and other fertilizers after two consecutive fertilization years. Additionally, we examined the immediate nitrification response to NEO through 73-hour soil incubations. Our results revealed that NEO significantly stimulated nitrification rates in agitated soil slurries, regardless of the feedstock used, surpassing rates observed in ammonium controls. Similarly, this pattern was also observed in loosely placed soil samples, with high nitrification rates occurring with NEO and ammonium chloride. Interestingly, the differences in nitrification rates between field-fertilized soil samples were minimal and inconse-quential, suggesting that while NEO exhibits a rapid boost in nitrification rates shortly after application, this effect is not sustained ≈ six months after fertilization under field conditions. Consequently, NEO indicates its potential as an environmentally benign fertilizer without adversely affecting soil nitrification

• Cottis, Thomas; Mousavi, Hesam & Solberg, Svein Øivind (2023). Plasma Treated Cattle Slurry Moderately Increases Cereal Yields. Agronomy. ISSN 2073-4395. 13(6), p. 1–14. doi: 10.3390/agronomy13061549. Show summary

  Plasma treatment offers an approach to enhance the nitrogen (N) content of livestock slurry and biogas digestate, thereby increasing the efficacy of organic fertilizers. This innovative method is used to produce nitrogen-enriched organic fertilizer (NEO) containing a double concentration of plant-available N. Over three years, we conducted a comprehensive study in 14 spring wheat and barley field trials in Norway. The primary objective was to assess and compare the cereal grain yield achieved by applying NEO to other conventional fertilizers. The NEO utilized in our research was derived from the unit developed by the Norwegian company N2 Applied. The results indicated that 120 kg N ha−1 in NEO yielded in the same range of cereal grains as 95 kg N ha−1 in mineral fertilizer. Moreover, the combination of untreated slurry and 55 kg N ha−1 in mineral fertilizer Opti-NS yielded the same as 120 kg N ha−1 in NEO. Surprisingly a combination of 12 kg N ha−1 in mineral fertilizer at sowing day and 108 kg N ha−1 in NEO at the three-leaf stage led to a higher yield in spring wheat than 120 kg N ha−1 NEO spread at sowing day in two out of three experimental years. Moreover, applying NEO directly to plants has shown no visible signs of harm. Lastly, filtering the slurry resulted in higher cereal grain yields than the untreated slurry. In conclusion, despite possessing the same N content, utilizing NEO yielded a 15–20% lower cereal grain yield than mineral fertilizer. Nonetheless, 20–30% more yield than the native amount of cattle slurry it derived. However, we have observed an unexplained loss of approximately 17% of the nitrogen in NEO, which does not translate into increased grain yield or nitrogen productivity

• Poudel, Prabhat; Ødegaard, Jørgen Vikeby; Mo, Siri Josefine; Andresen, Rebekka Kaald; Tandberg, Hans Andre & Cottis, Thomas [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2022). Italian Ryegrass, Perennial Ryegrass, and Meadow Fescue as Undersown Cover Crops in Spring Wheat and Barley: Results from a Mixed Methods Study in Norway. Sustainability. ISSN 2071-1050. 14(20), p. 1–17. doi: 10.3390/su142013055. Full text in Research Archive
• Mousavi, Hesam; Cottis, Thomas; Pommeresche, Reidun; Dörsch, Peter & Solberg, Svein Øivind (2022). Plasma-Treated Nitrogen-Enriched Manure Does Not Impose Adverse Effects on Soil Fauna Feeding Activity or Springtails and Earthworms Abundance. Agronomy. ISSN 2073-4395. 12(10). doi: 10.3390/agronomy12102314.
• Lethin, Johanna; Byrt, Caitlin; Berger, Bettina; Brien, Chris; Jewell, Nathaniel & Roy, Stuart [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2022). Improved Salinity Tolerance-Associated Variables Observed in EMS Mutagenized Wheat Lines. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. ISSN 1661-6596. 23(19), p. 3–20. doi: 10.3390/ijms231911386.
• Aamot, Heidi Udnes; Mousavi, Hesam; Razzaghian, Jafar; Brodal, Guro; Sulyok, Michael & Krska, Rudolf [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2022). Fusarium langsethiae and mycotoxin contamination in oat grain differed with growth stage at inoculation. European journal of plant pathology. ISSN 0929-1873. 164(1), p. 59–78. doi: 10.1007/s10658-022-02539-1. Full text in Research Archive
• Mousavi, Hesam; Bruning, Bas; Van Straten, Gerrit; Almås, Åsgeir R.; Lethin, Johanna & Naik, Nupur [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2022). Effects of increasing salinity by drip irrigation on total grain weight show high yield potential of putative salt-tolerant Mutagenized wheat lines. Sustainability. ISSN 2071-1050. 14(9). doi: 10.3390/su14095061.
• Mousavi, Hesam; Cottis, Thomas; Hoff, Gina Madeleine Haadem & Solberg, Svein Øivind (2022). Nitrogen Enriched Organic Fertilizer (NEO) and Its Effect on Ryegrass Yield and Soil Fauna Feeding Activity under Controlled Conditions. Sustainability. ISSN 2071-1050. 14. doi: 10.3390/su14042005. Show summary

  This study aimed to investigate the effects of a new nitrogen-enriched organic-based fertilizer (NEO) on Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) yield and soil fauna feeding activity. Nitrogen is transformed from the air to manure by a plasma process. At the farm level, NEO could improve self-sufficiency and sustainability. The work was carried out under controlled conditions in two pot trials. Five fertilization regimes were used: no fertilizer, different amounts of mineral fertilizer, three NEO types, organic fertilizer (untreated manure), and organic fertilizer + different amounts of N in mineral fertilizer, including 14 treatments in trial one and 11 treatments in trial two. Besides evaluating dry matter yields, we utilized the Bait-lamina test system to assess the feeding activity of soil fauna. The results indicated a clear positive impact of nitrogen (N) on ryegrass yield where all fertilizers increased the yield in correspondence with their N availability regardless of the fertilizer type; whereas the yield was highest with mineral fertilizer up to our maximum level of 235 kg N ha−1 in trial one and 175 kg N ha−1 in trial two. The NEO fertilizers yielded in the same range as mineral fertilizers. The same clear pattern was not observed for soil fauna feeding activity. Instead, a tendency was observed where no fertilization tends to give the highest feeding activity. We saw no correlation between the yield and the soil fauna feeding activity. The feeding activity was highest in depth below 5 cm from the soil surface. Feeding activity also increased over time after fertilization. The NEO fertilizers had no more adverse effects on soil fauna feeding activity than other fertilizers. Other factors than fertilization alone are determining the soil fauna feeding activity.

• Hassan, Sameer; Lethin, Johanna; Blomberg, Rasmus; Mousavi, Hesam & Aronsson, Henrik (2019). In silico based screening of WRKY genes for identifying functional genes regulated by WRKY under salt stress. Computational biology and chemistry. ISSN 1476-9271. doi: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2019.107131.
• Mousavi, Hesam; Vafabakhsh, Javad & Sadrabadi haghighi, Reza (2010). The effect of water deficit on water use efficiency and oil content of rapeseed cultivars. Agroecology Journal of Iran. ISSN 2423-4281. doi: 10.22067/JAG.V2I3.7662.

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• Mousavi, Hesam (2016). Identifying inoculation methods for screening of resistance to Fusarium langsethiae in selected oat varieties. Norwegian University of Life Sciences. 54 p.

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• Mousavi, Hesam (2024). From Ph.D. to Academia: Unraveling the Impacts of Fertilization on Soil Biota and Crop Yield.
• Mousavi, Hesam; Bruning, Bas; Van Straten, Gerrit; Almås, Åsgeir R.; Lethin, Johanna & Naik, Nupur [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2024). Unlocking High Yield Potential: Investigating the Impact of Drip Irrigation-Induced Salinity on Total Grain Weight in Salt-Tolerant Mutagenized Wheat Lines. Show summary

  Twenty-three lines derived from a mutagenized Bangladeshi BARI Gom-25 wheat population, including previously identified salt-tolerant lines, along with the BARI Gom-25 control variety, were cultivated in a drip-irrigated salinity test field at Salt Farm Texel, Netherlands. The study aimed to evaluate their performance under salt stress in European climatic conditions. The lines were exposed to irrigation salinity levels ranging from 1 to 20 dS m⁻¹, with four plot replicates containing 24 plants each. Various growth parameters, including average plant height, tiller number, spike length, frequency of living plants, and total grain weight (TGW), were recorded in relation to seasonal mean pore water salinity in the soil. Results indicated that increasing salinity levels reduced all evaluated variables for the mutagenized lines and the control variety. However, nine mutagenized lines exhibited at least twofold higher mean TGW than the control variety, averaging 18.73 ± 4.19 g/plot across salinity levels of 1–16 dS m⁻¹. While common models of salt tolerance affirmed this trend, there were no differences in salinity tolerance parameter estimates between the mutagenized lines and the control variety. Despite the similar responses of all lines to increased salinity, certain lines demonstrated consistently higher TGW than the control variety across various salinity treatments. This observation suggests a potential for enhanced salinity tolerance and a higher yield potential in these lines. Further investigations into the underlying mechanisms are needed to elucidate and harness these traits for sustainable agriculture. Keywords: EMS; drip irrigation; mutagenized; salinity; salt stress; wheat; sustainable agriculture

• Mousavi, Hesam (2023). Nitrogen-Enriched Organic fertilizer's (NEO) effects on crop yields, soil functions, and species.
• Mousavi, Hesam (2023). Reactive nitrogen in the biosphere since the industrial revolution, energy requirements in biological fixation and fertilizer production, and availability to plants.
• Mousavi, Hesam; Cottis, Thomas & Solberg, Svein Øivind (2023). Nitrogen Enriched Organic fertilizer (NEO) elevates nitrification rates shortly after application but has no lasting effect on nitrification in agricultural soils.
• Aamot, Heidi Udnes; Mousavi, Hesam; Razzaghian, Jafar; Brodal, Guro; Sulyok, Michael & Krska, Rudolf [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2023). Fusarium langsethiae and mycotoxin contamination in oat grain differed with growth stage at inoculation. Show summary

  In Norway, high levels of mycotoxins are occasionally observed in oat grain lots, and this cause problems for growers, livestock producers and the food and feed industries. Mycotoxins of primary concern are deoxynivalenol (DON) produced by Fusarium graminearum and HT2- and T2-toxins (HT2+T2) produced by Fusarium langsethiae. Although effort has been made to understand the epidemiology of F. langsethiae in oats, this is still not fully understood. In the present study, we aimed to increase our understanding of the F. langsethiae – oat interaction. Resistance to F. langsethiae was studied in three oat varieties after inoculation at early (booting, heading, flowering) or late (flowering, milk, dough) growth stages in greenhouse experiments. The oat varieties had previously shown different levels of resistance to F. graminearum: Odal, Vinger (both moderately resistant), and Belinda (susceptible). The levels of F. langsethiae DNA and HT2+T2 in harvested grain were measured, and differences in aggressiveness (measured as the level of F. langsethiae DNA in grain) between F. langsethiae isolates were observed. Substantial levels of F. langsethiae DNA and HT2+T2 were detected in grain harvested from oats that had been spray-inoculated at heading or later growth stages, suggesting that oats are susceptible to F. langsethiae from heading and onwards. Vinger had a moderate resistance to F. langsethiae/HT2+T2, whereas Odal and Belinda were relatively susceptible. We observed that late inoculations resulted in relatively higher levels of trichothecene A metabolites other than HT2+T2 (mostly glycosylated HT-2, and smaller amounts of some other metabolites) in harvested grain, which indicate that infections close to harvest may pose a further risk to food and feed safety.

• Mousavi, Hesam; Cottis, Thomas; Pommeresche, Reidun; Dörsch, Peter & Solberg, Svein Øivind (2023). Plasma-Treated Nitrogen-Enriched Manure Does Not Impose Adverse Effects on Soil Fauna Feeding Activity or Springtails and Earthworms Abundance.
• Mousavi, Hesam (2022). Investigating the effects of Nitrogen Enriched Organic fertilizer (NEO) on soil functions, biological activity, and key species in the soil.
• Cottis, Thomas; Solberg, Svein Øivind; Myrvang, Mona Bakke & Mousavi, Hesam (2022). Regionale gjødselressurser: avlingseffekt av biokull i blanding med biorest. Resultater fra Høgskolen i Innlandet sitt arbeid i 2021. Skriftserien Høgskolen i Innlandet. ISSN 2535-5678. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.34562.15046.
• Cottis, Thomas; Solberg, Svein Øivind; Nyvold, Magnus; Johansen, Astrid; Stabbetorp, Jan & Berg, Erik Hørluck [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2021). Prosjekt FARGO år 2020: en oppsummering av Høgskolen i Innlandet sin forskning. Skriftserien Høgskolen i Innlandet. ISSN 2535-5678. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.27408.89602.
• Mousavi, Hesam; Lethin, Johanna; Aronsson, Henrik & Olsson, Olof (2019). Development and characterization of an EMS mutated wheat population and identification of salt tolerant wheat lines.
• Mousavi, Hesam; Lethin, Johanna; Naik, Nupur; Olsson, Olof & Aronsson, Henrik (2019). Effects of elevated salinity on agronomic and physiological parameters of different mutated wheat lines.
• Mousavi, Hesam (2023). Nitrogen-Enriched Organic fertilizer's (NEO) effects on crop yields, soil functions, and species. Høgskolen i Innlandet. ISSN 978-82-8380-451-5. Show summary

  In an era of population growth, increasing food prices, scarcity of arable land, and environmental degradation of farmlands, demand for novel solutions has emerged. This entails introducing innovative fertilizer products designed to mitigate their environmental footprint. Synergized with complementary strategies, these innovations can bolster food production while safeguarding the food production system's sustainability. Nitrogen Enriched Organic fertilizer (NEO) is produced using a new method, where dinitrogen (N2) is captured from the air and through a plasma process mixed with bio-based fertilizers as nitrate (NO3 - ) and nitrite (NO2 - ). However, a thorough product assessment is necessary to unveil potential adverse effects before introducing it to the global markets. In this context, our research has centered on examining the fertilizer's impact on soil fauna activity (measured through substrate breakdown), the abundance of key soil species (springtails and earthworms), as well as critical processes like nitrification and nutrient uptake (yield). Different fertilization regimes were employed, including mineral fertilizer, NEO, untreated biobased fertilizers, and no fertilizer across various experimental setups. Regarding soil fauna feeding activity, there were discrepancies between our two studies. However, we observed a tendency for higher feeding activity in unfertilized soil or under lower fertilization amounts, irrespective of fertilizer type. However, the initial perturbative effect of fertilization on soil fauna feeding activity subsided within a few weeks after application. Likewise, NEO and other fertilizers demonstrated no detrimental effects on the abundance and weight of earthworms or the abundance of springtails. The study also investigated the impact of NEO on soil nitrification potential and observed that although NEO initially stimulated nitrification rates in controlled settings, this effect did not persist ≈ six months after fertilization in the field. Concerning crop yields, while yielding slightly less grass than mineral fertilizers under controlled conditions with equivalent N-min input, NEO exhibited a grain yield approximately 20% lower than mineral fertilizer in the field. Albeit, NEO unveiled an advantage, yielding 20–30% more than the original cattle slurry supply. This signifies a noteworthy enhancement in crop productivity, achieved solely through using electricity and cattle slurry as inputs. In brief, the explorations did not detect any harmful effects of NEO on soil functions and key species, while improved crop yields than the feedstock from which it was derived. Thus, our research findings demonstrate that NEO constitutes a meaningful contribution despite its incremental role in transitioning global food production systems toward sustainability.

• Cottis, Thomas; Solberg, Svein Øivind; Nyvold, Magnus; Dörsch, Peter & Mousavi, Hesam (2022). Resultater fra prosjekt FARGO 2021. Høgskolen i Innlandet. ISSN 978-82-8380-366-2. 2022(20). Show summary

  Høsten 2019 ble prosjektet Plasmabehandlet husdyrgjødsel – gjødselvirkning, miljøpåvirkning og klimagassutslipp (Fargo) innvilget finansiering fra Forskningsrådet. Prosjektet er i kategorien Innovasjonsprosjekt i næringslivet. Selskapet N2 Applied er prosjekteier og de går også inn med halvparten av prosjektets finansiering på til sammen 15 millioner kroner over prosjektets tre år: 2020-2022. Denne rapporten gjennomgår opplegg og resultater for de 11 feltforsøkene i gras og korn, 2 forsøk i vekstrom og 4 forsøk for effekter på jordliv i 2021. Høsten 2022 kommer prosjektets sluttrapport med resultatene for alle tre prosjektårene og samlede vurderinger og konklusjoner i henhold til prosjektenes mål og delmål.

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