Trial site Lelystad

Good to know

In short

700 ha of reclaimed clay soil
From field trial to storage
Conventional and organic systems

Trial site Lelystad is WUR’s largest experimental site, located on young marine clay. With 700 hectares of trial-ready fields, we have the capacity to set up everything from small-scale to very large and complex field experiments. These can be combined with laboratory analyses and high-quality storage facilities.

What can you do at trial site Lelystad?

What can you do here?

At Lelystad, you can study crop varieties, fertilisers, crop protection products and cultivation systems under real-life conditions on 700 hectares of fertile polder clay, part of which is organic (Skal-certified). The site offers facilities for strip cropping, mixed cropping, agroforestry, and various tillage systems such as ploughing, strip-till and non-inversion tillage, alongside conventional farming methods.

Mechanical weed control and precision agriculture equipment enable innovative crop trials. For quality and storage research, the site includes freezing and climate-controlled rooms.

Trial site Lelystad also offers specialised analytical facilities and expertise in nematology, microbiology and phytopathology. Within the location, the Agroecology and Technology Field Lab spans 80 hectares - a living laboratory where agroecological principles and smart technologies come together. The site also serves as a venue for demonstrations and stakeholder meetings.

At the nearby trial site De Eest site in Nagele, we operate 32 storage cells dedicated to sprout inhibition research in potatoes. Bulk produce can be stored under tightly controlled conditions, with each cell individually adjustable for precise temperature and climate management.

Who is trial site Lelystad for?

Who for?

Trial site Lelystad is designed for arable businesses and growers who want to conduct applied research on clay soils, as well as for agricultural input suppliers, breeding and mechanisation companies testing innovations, and technology developers in precision agriculture. Government bodies, sector organisations and research institutes also use the site for collaboration, demonstrations and policy development.