Experimental Sites

Technical specification:

18 ha arable land as field trial area near Witzenhausen in Neu-Eichenberg, North Hesse (51°23’ N, 9°54’ E, 227 m above sea level) managed under conditions of organic farming and 3 ha for conventional farming systems.

Application:

The experimental site was established in 2005 and it is used by several sections of the faculty. The site is equipped with all machinery needed for the conduction of field experiments on arable land.

Technical specification:

The IFBB (Integrated generation of solid fuel and biogas from biomass) laboratory plant consists of a hydrothermal conditioning unit to mix biomass with warm water and a mechanical separation step using a screw press (VetterTec, Typ AV).

Application:

The plant is located on the experimental site Neu-Eichenberg and is used to separate biomass in liquid and solid fractions. The solid fraction is a relatively dry, fiber rich press-cake with a reduced mineral content. The press-cake can be used as a solid fuel or as a feedstock for biochar or activated carbon production. The liquid fraction is a press-fluid with an increased sugar and mineral content. The press-fluid can be used as fertilizer or for biogas production.

Technical specification:

Pellet press qteck PP230UG, production capacity 150-250 kg/h, pellets with diameters of 6 mm or 10 mm can be produced.

Application:

The pellet press is located on the experimental site Neu-Eichenberg. It is used for biomass compacting. It is applicable for pelletising of wood, straw, hay, grass, IFBB press-cake etc.

Technical specification:

1.7 ha field trial area near Reiffenhausen (51°39’83”N and 9°98’75”E), consisting of two SRC fields (0.4 ha poplar and 0.6 ha willow) and one agroforestry system (0.7 ha) with 55 % grassland and 45 % willows.

Application:

The experimental site was established in 2011 as part of the project BEST and is used in the project SIGNAL II for agroforestry research, to determine the biomass development of different grassland swards and willows.