Topband: Does flooding radial field help

[Jack Henry]

I was struggling to be heard in the contest last night.  Only 4 stations were worked and they needed repeats.  All readings in the shack were normal and I was hearing many stations with moderate signals.  The only thing that was different was that we were irrigating the grass.   The grass is irrigated by flooding from a small canal that is on the edge of the property.  The canal is fresh water fed from an Andean river.  There was about a quarter of an inch of water visible over the mowed grass.  I am wondering if the water is effecting the antenna performance.

I do not have a super station and only run 800W.  The antenna is a 45 foot vertical T loaded at the top.  There are 32 radials 60 to 80 feet in length of different type wires.  All are insulated with various materials and are buried about an inch below the soil level.

Anyone have any experience or knowledge on this.  The soil is drying now in the blistering sun so maybe we will see if there is any improvement tonite.  

Thanks. Jack OA4TT

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