| A literature review and an experimentation were carried out to evaluate the effects of moisture content (M.C.) and temperature variations on the electrical resistance of high moisture chopped alfalfa. Samples were partially dried in the laboratory to reach various target moisture levels, frozen for conservation and thawed before testing. The test bench measured the electrical resistance of a sample compressed in a cylindrical cell with two electrodes 55 mm apart at the bottom. Experimentals results showed that the logarithm of resistance decreased linearly as moisture content and temperature increased. A time dependency of resistance was observed. Resistance systematically increased during the first five seconds of measurement when the water concentration above the electrodes was below 300 kg/m3. Finally, electrical conduction through forage material appeared to be electrolytic in nature. |
