Energy value of agricultural spelt residue (Triticum spelta L.) – forgotten cultures

Spelt (Triticum spelta L.), also known as dinkel wheat, or hulled wheat is one of the oldest crops. It originates from Asia. In Europe spelt was very important cereal during the Bronze Age and the Middle Ages. After the processing grains for food, biomass lags as a by-product or waste. Rising fossil fuel prices and increasing concerns about climate change are creating a growing demand for new sources of raw material for biomass combustion for sustainable heat production. In recent years studies have shown the positive effects of the use of agricultural residues for energy production. Grains of Spelt are processed into various purposes, while the chaff, glumes and stems remain as a by-product. Therefore, it is important to carry out research in order to determine energy characteristics of chaff, glumes and stems. This paper examined the two Spelt varieties: BcVigor and Ostro. Collected and homogenized samples were analysed by the energy characteristics: high (HHV) and lower (LHV) heating values of chaff, glumes and stems were determined by standard methods. The results obtained in this research showed that, after the use of Spelt grain for food, chaff, glumes and stems are representing by-product but also it is a high-quality raw material for energy production because of its high calorific values: the upper heating value in BcVigor stem was 17.367 MJ/kg and 17.224 MJ/kg in the Ostro stem, 16.402 MJ/kg in the Ostro chaff and glumes and 16.650 MJ/kg in the BcVigor chaff and glumes.