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Astronomical Rhythms in Agriculture
infuences of the northern and southern hemispheres, indicating that attempts to compare between
different geographic regions may be problematic.
According to Thun’s astronomical calendar, carrots should be sown on a ‘root day’ (when the
Moon is passing through Virgo, Taurus or Capricorn), yet I found no evidence that seeds sown on
such days were more productive, so further research with longer periods of observation is required
here. The evaluation of the sidereal rhythm in 2006 showed that seeds sown on leaf days were more
productive than those sown on root days, and both showed better results than those sown on the fruit
and fower days (Table 11.1). Spiess (1994) observed that carrots sown when the Moon was in Virgo
(a root day) had a higher productivity than those sown when the Moon was in any other constellation.
The negative effect of the nodes and perigees on yields of fresh root matter was statistically
signifcant in 2005, but was not observed in 2006 (Table 11.1). According to Thun’s astronomical
calendar, both the nodes and perigees are unfavourable for sowing.
On the other hand, the tropical rhythm of the Moon did not present statistically signifcant results at
all: the reason for this could be that Botucatu City is located very close to the tropic of Capricorn and
is not strongly infuenced by tropical rhythms, whereas Thun’s studies occurred at higher latitudes.
Comparing the results of the research with traditional knowledge about the infuence of the Moon
on crop growth, the empirical results support the traditional practice of sowing carrots between the
waning Moon and the new Moon phases.
FINAL CONSIDERATIONS
Various ethnological studies document the relationship between the farming practices of indigenous
peoples and their knowledge of astronomical phenomena. Some biodynamic researchers have studied this theme of chronobiology or biological rhythms in cultivated plants. In Brazil, the effect of
the Moon’s synodic rhythm is highly valued by family farmers and indigenous people and it was
precisely this aspect that provided the most consistent statistical results. The results of our feld trials support the common wisdom of sowing carrot from the waning Moon to the new moon phase.
Our experiment showed that dry mass was the only measured aspect that showed signifcant positive
results in the two periods of the experiment, with the results indicating that the synodic new phase
was a superior time to sow compared to the other phases.
Modern agriculture uses costly artifcial technologies with little consideration of their environmental or human health impacts. Such technologies are far removed from the ancestral knowledge of past civilisations and current indigenous communities. Biodynamic farming recovers the
importance of lunar rhythms to enhance sustainable agricultural management. This research shows
the complexity of life and the need to search for a new scientifc paradigm, with a more holistic
approach for understanding complex systems, and highlights the need for further research on the
infuence of astronomical rhythms in agriculture.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am grateful to farmer Didi Baldini (in memory) for his willingness to share his knowledge and
experimental results, and for the support of the Brazilian Association of Biodynamic Agriculture.
REFERENCES
Afonso, G. (2006a) Mitos e estações no céu tupi-guarani. Scientifc American Brasil, 4(45): 38–47, São Paulo.
Afonso, G. (2006b) Relações Afro-indígenas. Scientifc American Brasil, Edição especial Etnoastronomia,
14: 2–79.
Deep, K. and Mittal, R. (2014) Macronutrient K variation in mung bean sprouts with lunar phases. European
Scientifc Journal, 10(9): 1857–7881.
Astronomical Rhythms in Agriculture
infuences of the northern and southern hemispheres, indicating that attempts to compare between
different geographic regions may be problematic.
According to Thun’s astronomical calendar, carrots should be sown on a ‘root day’ (when the
Moon is passing through Virgo, Taurus or Capricorn), yet I found no evidence that seeds sown on
such days were more productive, so further research with longer periods of observation is required
here. The evaluation of the sidereal rhythm in 2006 showed that seeds sown on leaf days were more
productive than those sown on root days, and both showed better results than those sown on the fruit
and fower days (Table 11.1). Spiess (1994) observed that carrots sown when the Moon was in Virgo
(a root day) had a higher productivity than those sown when the Moon was in any other constellation.
The negative effect of the nodes and perigees on yields of fresh root matter was statistically
signifcant in 2005, but was not observed in 2006 (Table 11.1). According to Thun’s astronomical
calendar, both the nodes and perigees are unfavourable for sowing.
On the other hand, the tropical rhythm of the Moon did not present statistically signifcant results at
all: the reason for this could be that Botucatu City is located very close to the tropic of Capricorn and
is not strongly infuenced by tropical rhythms, whereas Thun’s studies occurred at higher latitudes.
Comparing the results of the research with traditional knowledge about the infuence of the Moon
on crop growth, the empirical results support the traditional practice of sowing carrots between the
waning Moon and the new Moon phases.
FINAL CONSIDERATIONS
Various ethnological studies document the relationship between the farming practices of indigenous
peoples and their knowledge of astronomical phenomena. Some biodynamic researchers have studied this theme of chronobiology or biological rhythms in cultivated plants. In Brazil, the effect of
the Moon’s synodic rhythm is highly valued by family farmers and indigenous people and it was
precisely this aspect that provided the most consistent statistical results. The results of our feld trials support the common wisdom of sowing carrot from the waning Moon to the new moon phase.
Our experiment showed that dry mass was the only measured aspect that showed signifcant positive
results in the two periods of the experiment, with the results indicating that the synodic new phase
was a superior time to sow compared to the other phases.
Modern agriculture uses costly artifcial technologies with little consideration of their environmental or human health impacts. Such technologies are far removed from the ancestral knowledge of past civilisations and current indigenous communities. Biodynamic farming recovers the
importance of lunar rhythms to enhance sustainable agricultural management. This research shows
the complexity of life and the need to search for a new scientifc paradigm, with a more holistic
approach for understanding complex systems, and highlights the need for further research on the
infuence of astronomical rhythms in agriculture.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am grateful to farmer Didi Baldini (in memory) for his willingness to share his knowledge and
experimental results, and for the support of the Brazilian Association of Biodynamic Agriculture.
REFERENCES
Afonso, G. (2006a) Mitos e estações no céu tupi-guarani. Scientifc American Brasil, 4(45): 38–47, São Paulo.
Afonso, G. (2006b) Relações Afro-indígenas. Scientifc American Brasil, Edição especial Etnoastronomia,
14: 2–79.
Deep, K. and Mittal, R. (2014) Macronutrient K variation in mung bean sprouts with lunar phases. European
Scientifc Journal, 10(9): 1857–7881.