Agronomy and Crop Science, Soil Science, Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Plant Science
17
Scopus Publications
162
Scholar Citations
8
Scholar h-index
6
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
Spent mushroom substrate (SMS) as a sustainable soil amendment and biofertilizer: A review of opportunities and challenges in agricultural and horticultural systems Ida Quisth, Isabella Ulfsparre, Bettina Müller, Volkmar Passoth, Svein Øivind Solberg, et al. Agricultural and Food Science, 2026 Spent mushroom substrate (SMS), a byproduct of mushroom cultivation, has gained increasing attention as a sustainable soil amendment in agricultural and horticultural systems. SMS provides a promising alternative to peat-based substrates and synthetic fertilizers, supporting circular bioeconomy principles and sustainable farming practices. This is particularly relevant in boreal regions, where soils are typically acidic, nutrient-poor, and subject to short growing season conditions, presenting both opportunities and challenges for organic inputs. This review synthesizes current research on the agronomic and environmental implications of SMS use in agriculture and horticulture, including its effects on seed germination, plant growth, crop yield, root development, soil structure, and disease suppression. From an environmental perspective, the use of SMS contributes to waste reduction by repurposing organic residues and replacing peat, a non-renewable resource with significant ecological costs. However, several hurdles remain, including high salinity, inconsistent composition, nutrient imbalances, and complex compounds difficult for plants to access, which can impede plant performance. While prior studies have explored SMS in isolated settings, a comprehensive evaluation across systems is lacking. This review addresses that gap by assessing current evidence, identifying limitations, and outlining future research needs to optimize the use of SMS and scale its adoption in sustainable farming.
Magnesium-mediated stress adaptation in plants: from physio-biochemical insights to climate-resilient agriculture Mohammad Sarraf, Ruchi Bansal, A. M. Shackira, Vaishali Yadav, Saeedeh Zarbakhsh, et al. Frontiers in Plant Science, 2026 Magnesium (Mg) is a vital macronutrient that underpins multiple processes essential for plant growth, development, and survival. As the central atom in chlorophyll, Mg is indispensable for photosynthesis, the foundation of crop productivity. Beyond light capture, Mg functions as a structural, enzymatic, and regulatory ion, making it a critical mediator of plant tolerance to abiotic stresses. Drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, and nutrient deficiencies continue to limit agricultural yields, yet Mg-mediated pathways can significantly mitigate their effects. By influencing photosynthesis, ion homeostasis, osmotic adjustment, antioxidative defenses, and signal transduction, Mg reinforces multiple layers of plant stress adaptation. This review consolidates current knowledge of Mg’s roles in enhancing plant tolerance to adverse conditions, with particular emphasis on the molecular, physiological, and biochemical mechanisms underlying these roles. By integrating findings across different scales, it advances understanding of Mg-mediated stress adaptation and highlights its potential as a key factor in developing climate-resilient crop production systems. Unlike earlier works that have focused narrowly on Mg nutrition and photosynthesis, this review offers a holistic framework linking molecular insights to agronomic applications. Additionally, it provides future perspectives and research directions to bridge current knowledge gaps and guide innovation in crop breeding, nutrient management, and sustainable production systems.
Beneficial microbes for One Health in Canada: a review of evidence and a policy proposal Gregor Reid, Emma Allen-Vercoe, Kait Al, Jeremy P. Burton, Brendan Daisley, et al. Facets, 2025 The recognition that microbes are the life support system of the biosphere and play a major role in the health of all life forms provides us with a unique opportunity to channel resources into utilizing them for our benefit. This policy document was prepared by assessing the scientific rationale and evidence for the application of beneficial microbes to One Health. Ten recommendations are made including the establishment of a new national program that creates strategies, provides funding, and partners with industries and end-users to make Canada a self-directed global leader in this transformative field. Issues covered include biotics, fecal microbiota transplant, fundamental and applied research, regulatory, the education system, and applications to pollinators, aquaculture, coral, biofertilizers, livestock, companion animals, horses, and sustainability of agriculture and environmental management. It is hoped that this document will provide politicians, bureaucrats, academics, and representatives of the end users of beneficial microbial products the incentive to appoint an expert panel to develop the means to implement a program of this type. At a time when climate change, biodiversity, long-term health, integration of cultures, and access to home resourced nutritious food are high on government agendas, the proposed program offers a novel means to positively influence residents across the country.
Nitrogen Enriched Organic fertilizer (NEO) elevates nitrification rates shortly after application but has no lasting effect on nitrification in agricultural soils Hesam Mousavi, Svein Øivind Solberg, Thomas Cottis Agricultural and Food Science, 2023 Amidst population growth, escalating food costs, limited arable land, and farmland degradation, the adoption of innovative technologies—like organic waste recycling and nutrient recovery—is crucial for enhancing 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, potentially yielding toxic inorganic or organic N compounds. This study investigated the impact of NEO derived from cattle slurry and biogas digestate on soil nitrification—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 inconsequential, 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.
Plasma Treated Cattle Slurry Moderately Increases Cereal Yields Thomas Cottis, Hesam Mousavi, Svein Øivind Solberg Agronomy, 2023 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.
Magnesium (Mg)-Mediated Stress Adaptation in Plants: From Physio-biochemical Insights to Climate-Resilient Agriculture M Sarraf, R Bansal, S AM, V YADAV, S Zarbakhsh, R Roychowdhury, ... Frontiers in Plant Science 17, 1715501 , 2026 2026 Citations: 2
Spent Mushroom Substrate (SMS) as a Sustainable Soil Amendment and Biofertilizer: A Review of Opportunities and Challenges in Agricultural and Horticultural Systems I Quisth, I Ulfsparre, B Müller, V Passoth, SØ Solberg, C Martín, ... Agricultural and Food Science 34 (4), 323-338 , 2025 2025 Citations: 4
Mitigating salinity and cadmium stress in rice (Oryza sativa L.) using PGPR and salicylic acid: rhizosphere, health risk, and physiological insights AA Al-Huqail, MAR Al-Malki, DM Melebari, HES Osman, D Alshehri, ... Plant Signaling & Behavior 20 (1), 2553803 , 2025 2025 Citations: 2
Machine and deep learning-based wheat yield prediction: the critical role of soil moisture and remote sensing data S Hosseinpour, H Pirdashti, D Hosseinpour, H Mousavi, ... Modeling Earth Systems and Environment 11 (4), 275 , 2025 2025 Citations: 6
Plasma treated cattle slurry with modest fertilizer effect on grass T Cottis, H Mousavi, SØ Solberg European Journal of Agronomy 168, 127649 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Beneficial microbes for One Health in Canada: a review of evidence and a policy proposal G Reid, E Allen-Vercoe, K Al, JP Burton, B Daisley, B Dixon, H Mousavi, ... Facets 10, 1-32 , 2025 2025
Climate-smart agriculture: the promise of system of rice intensification (SRI) for sustainable paddy production. S Hosseinpour, H Mousavi agriRxiv, 20250071256 , 2025 2025
Determination of a Sustainable Management for Rice Production Through a Modeling Approach S Hosseinpour, H Pirdashti, M Kaveh, H Dokoohaki, H Mousavi International Journal of Plant Production 19 (1), 47-64 , 2024 2024 Citations: 4
A scrutiny of plasticity management in irrigated wheat systems under CMIP6 earth system models (case study: Golestan Province, Iran) S. Hosseinpour et al. S Hosseinpour, S Bagherikia, H Soughi, H Pirdashti, H Mousavi Theoretical and Applied Climatology 155 (6), 4663-4680 , 2024 2024 Citations: 1
Nitrogen Enriched Organic fertilizer (NEO) elevates nitrification rates shortly after application but has no lasting effect on nitrification in agricultural soils H Mousavi, T Cottis, SØ Solberg Agricultural and Food Science 32 (4), 179–194 , 2023 2023 Citations: 17
Nitrogen-Enriched Organic fertilizer's (NEO) effects on crop yields, soil functions, and species H Mousavi Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences , 2023 2023
Italian ryegrass, perennial ryegrass, and meadow fescue as undersown cover crops in spring wheat and barley: Results from a mixed methods study in Norway P Poudel, J Ødegaard, SJ Mo, RK Andresen, HA Tandberg, T Cottis, ... Sustainability 14 (20), 13055 , 2022 2022 Citations: 9
Improved salinity tolerance-associated variables observed in EMS mutagenized wheat lines J Lethin, C Byrt, B Berger, C Brien, N Jewell, S Roy, H Mousavi, ... International Journal of Molecular Sciences 23 (19), 11386 , 2022 2022 Citations: 19
Plasma-treated nitrogen-enriched manure does not impose adverse effects on soil fauna feeding activity or springtails and earthworms abundance H Mousavi, T Cottis, R Pommeresche, P Dörsch, SØ Solberg Agronomy 12 (10), 2314 , 2022 2022 Citations: 12
Fusarium langsethiae and mycotoxin contamination in oat grain differed with growth stage at inoculation HU Aamot, H Mousavi, J Razzaghian, G Brodal, M Sulyok, R Krska, ... European Journal of Plant Pathology 164 (1), 59-78 , 2022 2022 Citations: 7
Effects of increasing salinity by drip irrigation on total grain weight show high yield potential of putative salt-tolerant mutagenized wheat lines H Mousavi, B Bruning, G Van Straten, ÅR Almås, J Lethin, N Naik, ... Sustainability 14 (9), 5061 , 2022 2022 Citations: 8
Nitrogen enriched organic fertilizer (neo) and its effect on ryegrass yield and soil fauna feeding activity under controlled conditions H Mousavi, T Cottis, G Hoff, SØ Solberg Sustainability 14 (4), 2005 , 2022 2022 Citations: 22
Regionale gjødselressurser: avlingseffekt av biokull i blanding med biorest T Cottis, SØ Solberg, MB Myrvang, H Mousavi https://hdl.handle.net/11250/2977151 , 2022 2022 Citations: 3
Livsmestring som tverrfaglig tema i Kunnskapsløftet 2020 En studie av læreres erfaringer i arbeidet mot nytt læreplanmål MK Nygård, B Midtskogen, H Kvammen, L Ingebrigtsen, J Øgård, ... Inland Norway University , 2022 2022
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
In silico based screening of WRKY genes for identifying functional genes regulated by WRKY under salt stress S Hassan, J Lethin, R Blomberg, H Mousavi, H Aronsson Computational biology and chemistry 83, 107131 , 2019 2019 Citations: 31
Nitrogen enriched organic fertilizer (neo) and its effect on ryegrass yield and soil fauna feeding activity under controlled conditions H Mousavi, T Cottis, G Hoff, SØ Solberg Sustainability 14 (4), 2005 , 2022 2022 Citations: 22
Improved salinity tolerance-associated variables observed in EMS mutagenized wheat lines J Lethin, C Byrt, B Berger, C Brien, N Jewell, S Roy, H Mousavi, ... International Journal of Molecular Sciences 23 (19), 11386 , 2022 2022 Citations: 19
Nitrogen Enriched Organic fertilizer (NEO) elevates nitrification rates shortly after application but has no lasting effect on nitrification in agricultural soils H Mousavi, T Cottis, SØ Solberg Agricultural and Food Science 32 (4), 179–194 , 2023 2023 Citations: 17
Plasma-treated nitrogen-enriched manure does not impose adverse effects on soil fauna feeding activity or springtails and earthworms abundance H Mousavi, T Cottis, R Pommeresche, P Dörsch, SØ Solberg Agronomy 12 (10), 2314 , 2022 2022 Citations: 12
Italian ryegrass, perennial ryegrass, and meadow fescue as undersown cover crops in spring wheat and barley: Results from a mixed methods study in Norway P Poudel, J Ødegaard, SJ Mo, RK Andresen, HA Tandberg, T Cottis, ... Sustainability 14 (20), 13055 , 2022 2022 Citations: 9
Effects of increasing salinity by drip irrigation on total grain weight show high yield potential of putative salt-tolerant mutagenized wheat lines H Mousavi, B Bruning, G Van Straten, ÅR Almås, J Lethin, N Naik, ... Sustainability 14 (9), 5061 , 2022 2022 Citations: 8
Fusarium langsethiae and mycotoxin contamination in oat grain differed with growth stage at inoculation HU Aamot, H Mousavi, J Razzaghian, G Brodal, M Sulyok, R Krska, ... European Journal of Plant Pathology 164 (1), 59-78 , 2022 2022 Citations: 7
Machine and deep learning-based wheat yield prediction: the critical role of soil moisture and remote sensing data S Hosseinpour, H Pirdashti, D Hosseinpour, H Mousavi, ... Modeling Earth Systems and Environment 11 (4), 275 , 2025 2025 Citations: 6
Spent Mushroom Substrate (SMS) as a Sustainable Soil Amendment and Biofertilizer: A Review of Opportunities and Challenges in Agricultural and Horticultural Systems I Quisth, I Ulfsparre, B Müller, V Passoth, SØ Solberg, C Martín, ... Agricultural and Food Science 34 (4), 323-338 , 2025 2025 Citations: 4
Determination of a Sustainable Management for Rice Production Through a Modeling Approach S Hosseinpour, H Pirdashti, M Kaveh, H Dokoohaki, H Mousavi International Journal of Plant Production 19 (1), 47-64 , 2024 2024 Citations: 4
Effect of water deficit on water use efficiency of canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivars in Mashhad condition SH Mousavi, J Vafabakhsh, R Sadrabadi Haghighi Journal of Agroecology 2 (3), 486-491 , 2010 2010 Citations: 4
Regionale gjødselressurser: avlingseffekt av biokull i blanding med biorest T Cottis, SØ Solberg, MB Myrvang, H Mousavi https://hdl.handle.net/11250/2977151 , 2022 2022 Citations: 3
Magnesium (Mg)-Mediated Stress Adaptation in Plants: From Physio-biochemical Insights to Climate-Resilient Agriculture M Sarraf, R Bansal, S AM, V YADAV, S Zarbakhsh, R Roychowdhury, ... Frontiers in Plant Science 17, 1715501 , 2026 2026 Citations: 2
Mitigating salinity and cadmium stress in rice (Oryza sativa L.) using PGPR and salicylic acid: rhizosphere, health risk, and physiological insights AA Al-Huqail, MAR Al-Malki, DM Melebari, HES Osman, D Alshehri, ... Plant Signaling & Behavior 20 (1), 2553803 , 2025 2025 Citations: 2
Plasma treated cattle slurry with modest fertilizer effect on grass T Cottis, H Mousavi, SØ Solberg European Journal of Agronomy 168, 127649 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
A scrutiny of plasticity management in irrigated wheat systems under CMIP6 earth system models (case study: Golestan Province, Iran) S. Hosseinpour et al. S Hosseinpour, S Bagherikia, H Soughi, H Pirdashti, H Mousavi Theoretical and Applied Climatology 155 (6), 4663-4680 , 2024 2024 Citations: 1
Beneficial microbes for One Health in Canada: a review of evidence and a policy proposal G Reid, E Allen-Vercoe, K Al, JP Burton, B Daisley, B Dixon, H Mousavi, ... Facets 10, 1-32 , 2025 2025
Climate-smart agriculture: the promise of system of rice intensification (SRI) for sustainable paddy production. S Hosseinpour, H Mousavi agriRxiv, 20250071256 , 2025 2025
