RÖDER Tents with transparent tarpaulins for drought stress experiments
Outdoor CO2 exposition system (FACE) in Braunschweig, Germany
Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment or FACE is a technical experimental design that allows for the simulation of increased carbon dioxide levels (main cause of global warming) outside and the examination its influence on plants and ecosystems.
The German federal research institute vTI Brauchschweig, the only only FACE site with this very complex experimental equipment for crop systems in Europe, studies the impact of CO2 on the growth of maize plants in outdoor experiments.
Six large RÖDER tents measuring 12x20m with transparent tarpaulins were used for protection against precipitation in the drought stress experiment design.
In doing so the impact of higher CO2-levels in the future were simulated along with summer drought conditions.
RÖDER tent frames directly after assembly 
The tent frame in growing maize and the outdoor CO2-Exposition system (FACE) with black circular design
Experiment area in early summer, mid-June
field experiment design of 3 circular experiment areas with atmospheric CO2-enrichment / 3 control areas,
on the half of each area, plants were placed under drought stress conditions using the RÖDER tents.
Detailed picture of a tent during the first attachment of transparent tarpaulins, mid-July.
The photo illustrates the gutter design, both rear ties are already covered with tarpaulins. The maize has reached its greatest height by this time (approximately 3 m) In the foreground: Ultrasonic wind sensors to direct CO2-enrichment.
With transparent tarpaulin tents directly in front of the distance to the tarpaulins, end of August
Detail of a tent covered with transparent tarpaulins, illustrates the translucency of the tarpaulins.
Photos: German federal research institute vTI Braunschweig.
