The Year 11 Agricultural Science Aggies recently conducted an ag plot “Soil Your Undies” investigation to explore soil health and biological activity across different locations around the school farm.

The Aggies buried 100% cotton underwear in a variety of sites and dug them up eight weeks later to assess the level of decomposition. The concept is simple: healthy soils contain large populations of microorganisms that feed on organic matter, including cotton fibres. The more the underwear breaks down, the more biologically active and healthy the soil is considered to be.

The results were both entertaining and informative. The Aggies found that the least disturbed soil sites showed the greatest level of decomposition, indicating higher levels of microbial activity. In contrast, soils that experienced greater disturbance had less breakdown of the cotton material. Another interesting observation was that the elastic waistbands remained largely intact, highlighting that synthetic materials do not readily decompose in soil. Aggies also noted that dyed underwear appeared to have been broken down less than the plain cotton fabric, possibly linking to the fact that the dyes were likely not natural.

This hands-on investigation provided the Aggies with loads of laughs along with valuable insights into the importance of soil biology and how management practices can influence soil health. It was a memorable way to bring soil science to life while reinforcing the critical role microorganisms play in sustainable agricultural production.

Jade King, Head of Agriculture