Rapid assessment of moisture content and fermentation status in wet-mixed pelleted feed using electrochemical...

Moisture content and fermentation status are critical to the quality control of wet-mixed pelleted feed for geese, yet current on-farm assessment still relies largely on subjective sensory judgement or destructive analytical methods. This study evaluated the feasibility of using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy as a non-destructive method for monitoring moisture- and fermentation-related changes in wet-mixed pelleted feed for geese.

Feed samples were prepared under controlled gradients of water addition and fermentation time, and complex impedance spectra were recorded across the measured frequency range. Equivalent-circuit modeling was applied to extract physically interpretable parameters associated with ionic conduction, interfacial polarization and diffusion-related behavior. Under moisture-gradient conditions, the fitted models showed high goodness of fit (R² = 0.992-0.998). Increasing water addition generally reduced resistive components and enhanced capacitance-related indices, indicating improved ionic conduction and stronger interfacial polarization in the wet-mixed matrix. During fermentation, impedance parameters changed dynamically with time, and the Warburg-augmented model provided better agreement than the Randles-constant-phase element model at 24 and 72 h (R² = 0.992 and 0.996 vs. 0.980 and 0.960), indicating potential for discrimination of moisture level and fermentation progression within the tested system.

These findings indicate that electrochemical impedance spectroscopy has potential as a rapid, non-destructive approach for assessing moisture content and fermentation status in wet-mixed pelleted feed for geese, and provides a basis for further sensor development and feed-quality monitoring. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.