Underwear burial project reveals how land use shapes soil decomposition
A citizen science project had 1,000 participants bury cotton underpants for two months across 25 countries to measure soil decomposition rates. The study found that land use significantly affects soil biological activity and quality. The researchers used the underwear as a low-cost alternative to traditional teabag-based decomposition tests.
The study builds on the established "teabag index" method, which uses commercially available tea bags to measure decomposition rates but requires careful handling and specialized tools like fine-scale balances. The researchers instead drew on prior work showing cotton strips could assess decomposition, leading to the playful "Proof by Underpants" citizen science approach. Each volunteer received an activity pack containing two pairs of organic cotton men's underpants, 12 teabags, and a soil collection bag with instructions.
The project's scale was notable: 1,000 volunteers across 25 countries participated, with 240 of them listed as co-authors on the published paper. The study addresses a critical concern, as soil health has been declining worldwide despite being essential for agriculture, food security, and ecosystem services. Decomposition rates serve as a key indicator of soil biological activity, breaking down organic matter into simpler compounds while releasing carbon dioxide and nutrients.
This study could influence how land managers and policymakers assess soil quality, potentially making large-scale monitoring more accessible through low-cost citizen science methods. Farmers and agricultural stakeholders may gain practical insights into how different land uses affect soil biological activity, informing decisions about crop rotation, grazing practices, or urban green space management. The participatory approach could also strengthen public engagement with environmental science, helping communities understand the living systems beneath their feet.