Influence of moon rhythms on yield of carrot (Daucus carota), under biodynamic management

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the influence of moon rhythms on yield of carrot roots underbiodynamic management sowed in different dates. The experiment was carried out over a two period ona biodynamic farm, in Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil. Rhythms were tested observing the effects ofseeding at different planting dates. The experiment was performed with four randomized blocks and 31treatments (different dates) in 2005, and fourteen treatments in 2006. The harvest was made 82 daysafter sowing. Effects associated with planting at a specific lunar position were measured by thedeviations from the trend curve. The following characteristics had been evaluated: fresh mass of rootsand leaves and dry mass of roots. Dry mass was the only one that in the contrast between averagesshowed significant results in the two periods of the experiment. Result was that the synodic new phasewas superior to the first quarter, and full phases and in the “caboclo” synodic rhythm, the full phase wasinferior to the other.