> How much underwear decomposed was strongly linked to how many nutrients and how much organic material were in the soil. // Burying cotton underwear proved to be a simple, easy-to-use way to get a first impression of soil biological activity that anyone can try with a comparable pair of cotton briefs
A very simple question: why not directly using cotton fabric cuts?
Because cotton underwear is arguably the right answer:
"Buy this item made out of this material, bury two of them in the ground" requires no further cutting or measuring, and most people would have to go to the store to buy a cut of cotton fabric anyway.
This particular clothing item also contains a more resistant skeleton of fibers against which to compare when the test material is heavily decomposed. This is how the "10 point decomposition scale" functions, and a single cotton square would not facilitate that.
Finally, it's novel, which entices potential participants to complete the survey.
The photos in the team's actual paper (linked in OA) are hilarious and lovely - real pride there. Citizen science projects have educational value as well as the data.
A very simple question: why not directly using cotton fabric cuts?
"Buy this item made out of this material, bury two of them in the ground" requires no further cutting or measuring, and most people would have to go to the store to buy a cut of cotton fabric anyway.
This particular clothing item also contains a more resistant skeleton of fibers against which to compare when the test material is heavily decomposed. This is how the "10 point decomposition scale" functions, and a single cotton square would not facilitate that.
Finally, it's novel, which entices potential participants to complete the survey.