Query: water tables /soil moisture content

jd

Hi

Has anybody knowledge of research into water table levels and soil moisture content during the lunar cycle. On certain web sites I have come across assertions that the moon influences water table levels / soil moisture content , but I can't find anything based on empirical research. Any ideas?
cheers

El Siglo

Never heard of that in my life. I know in salt marshes where you have a somewhat fuzzy transition from marine to terrestrial you could have spring tides inundating "terra firma" but nothing of any noteworthy value (i.e. you might find a few agglutinated forams but nothing out of the ordinary). I can't see the moon influencing soil moisture content either though.

jd

Thanks for the feedback. The idea that the moon has an influence on the water table / soil moisture is given as being axiomatic on sites about bio-dynamics and similar "stuff".

El Siglo

jd wrote: »

Thanks for the feedback. The idea that the moon has an influence on the water table / soil moisture is given as being axiomatic on sites about bio-dynamics and similar "stuff".

I wouldn't trust many websites when it comes to this kind of stuff, as a rule of thumb if it's a university website (loads of American and Canadian unis stick information up) or it's a peer-reviewed journal website or a research institute (Scripps etc...) then I would trust it. If however, it's something like as you say that uses terms like "bio-dynamics" or like this, then approach it with serious caution (i.e. it is complete horse shit).

jd

I agree! My interest was piqued when I came across this
http://www.thepost.ie/news/guilt-free-and-biodynamic-54016.html

Guilt-free and biodynamic
23 January 2011 By Tomás Clancy

Biodynamic winemaking is rapidly becoming the gold standard for wine producers around the world.

From high-end Burgundy artisans to mass-market Chilean producers, it is clear that biodynamics is now the benchmark for green and sustainable agricultural practice.

..
Until a few years ago, biodynamics was inextricably associated in the minds of many people with sandal-wearing, moon-worshipping, nettle tea-drinking hippies; not the kind of image that most high-end winers would have wanted to foster.

Today, the moon-worshipping element seems entirely sound. It’s not about wearing white robes at midnight in a field but, rather, about understanding how the moon affects the oceans, pulling them back and forth like a plaything twice a day, and affecting moisture levels in soil.

The list of great wines from the biodynamic sector is increasing evidence that it represents the true mark of quality for wine lovers, and clearly represents best environmental practices too. It’s a guilt-free product for Irish wine lovers.

It sounds like a lot of woo to me, coming from Steiner, founder of anthroposophy etc.

Anyway, I was interested in finding out had any good research been completed on the topic in hand.

SeaFields

Have a look through United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service. Be warned though...there is a lot of stuff there. You might just find what you are looking for though.

Coles

If the lunar cycle had an influence on soil moisture or on the water table, it would probably also have an influence on the discharge rate of aquifers. It would be very easy to spot an oscillation in the flow of a spring, and it would probably be widely known. The fact that it's not, suggests that the lunar cycle doesn't have a noticeable impact on aquifer discharge.

The lunar cycle might influence the growth of crops in other ways, and I certainly wouldn't dismiss the possibility just because I don't understand it.