Soil Test 8: Soil your Undies

Purpose: to give a visual and engaging measure of soil biological activity and organic matter decomposition.

Material needs: Underpants (Coop Naturaline Herren Slip weiss S), spade, something to mark location, phone to photograph

Time estimated: 10 minutes

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Remove the top soil layer with vegetation and put aside. Dig a hole of approximately 30cm depth and 50cm width, so that the underpants can be inserted vertically into the soil without folding the textile.
2. Attach the underwear horizontally to the edge of a hole, with the waistband protruding just above the soil surface.
3. If necessary, secure the waistband with a stone or your foot.
4. Refill the hole with

   Purpose: to give a visual and engaging measure of soil biological activity and organic matter decomposition.

   Material needs: Underpants (Coop Naturaline Herren Slip weiss S), spade, something to mark location, phone to photograph

   Time estimated: 10 minutes

    

   Step-by-step instruction:

   1. Remove the top soil layer with vegetation and put aside. Dig a hole of approximately 30cm depth and 50cm width, so that the underpants can be inserted vertically into the soil without folding the textile.
   2. Attach the underwear horizontally to the edge of a hole, with the waistband protruding just above the soil surface.
   3. If necessary, secure the waistband with a stone or your foot.
   4. Refill the hole with soil in the same order as it was dug, start with the lower soil layer first, then place the upper soil layer on top.
   5. Replace the vegetated layer (if present) on top.
   6. Press everything down firmly so that the white waistband is still visible.
   7. Place the marker next to the underwear.
   8. After 8 weeks, carefully dig up the underwear again.
   9. Compare the degree of decomposition with the reference scale.

   Video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk_L34ufHg4; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W1wE7obF10

Figure 3 Degradation degree of soil underpants.

 Form

• Time buried before excavation: _______
• Was the area watered?: Yes / No
• Degradation degree: 10% / 20% / 40% / 60%+ / don’t know / gone

1. References

Beweisstück Unterhose. (2025, August). Anleitung 2024 [PDF]. Retrieved from https://www.beweisstueck-unterhose.ch/images/content/Aktion2024/2024_BSUH_Anleitung_A4_De_3-kombiniert.pdf