Researchers recruited 1,000 Swiss citizens to bury organic cotton underpants to assess soil decomposition rates and biological activity.
Key facts
- •The study involved 1,000 participants across Switzerland, with 240 listed as co-authors on the paper.
- •Underpants were buried and retrieved in two stages, at 30 days and 60 days.
- •Private gardens provided the most active environment for soil decomposition.
- •Lawns showed the least activity of soil organisms compared to other land types.
- •The underpants method is considered easier to interpret than the standard Tea Bag Index.
A study published in the journal Plants People Planet involved 1,000 Swiss citizens in a citizen science project to evaluate soil health. Participants buried two pairs of organic cotton underpants and six teabags at their chosen sites, retrieving the items after 30 and 60 days to document decomposition. The research aimed to compare the effectiveness of the "underpants index" against the standard Tea Bag Index (TBI) for measuring soil biological activity.
By the numbers
Methodology and Findings
Participants were provided with activity packs containing two pairs of organic cotton underpants, 12 teabags, and soil sampling materials. The underpants were buried vertically with the synthetic waistband left visible. Researchers found that land use was the primary factor influencing decomposition rates. Private gardens showed the fastest decomposition, attributed to higher levels of organic matter that support earthworms, fungi, and bacteria. In contrast, lawns exhibited the lowest levels of soil organism activity, while agricultural fields and meadows fell in the middle range.
Comparison to Standard Methods
The study concluded that the "underpants index" provided data on soil conditions comparable to the established Tea Bag Index, including measurements of chemical properties, moisture, and elevation. The authors noted that the underpants offer a more intuitive, visual, and haptic method for assessing decomposition. They suggested that this approach is particularly well-suited for citizen science initiatives aimed at increasing public awareness regarding soil-related environmental issues.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Ars Technica.
