{
  "id": 16870809,
  "title": "Ontario farmer used buried cotton briefs to gauge soil activity; he reported corn yields were 15 bushels per acre higher after red clover in 2012",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/ontario-farmer-used-buried-cotton-briefs-to-gauge-soil-activity-he",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-28T07:42:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hindustan Times - World News",
    "slug": "hindustan-times-world-news",
    "url": "https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/ontario-farmer-blake-vince-used-buried-cotton-briefs-to-gauge-soil-activity-he-reported-corn-yields-were-15-bushels-per-acre-higher-after-red-clover-101793094445016.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2012, Ontario farmer Blake Vince employed an unconventional method to assess soil activity on his farm near Merlin. He buried a pair of cotton briefs in no-till fields with cover crops and retrieved them after about two months. The decomposition rate of the cotton fabric provided a visual indicator of biological activity in the soil. Vince found that the fabric was more decomposed in biologically active soil, with about 47% of the fabric missing compared to just 2% in conventionally tilled fields. This simple experiment, known as the \"Soil Your Undies\" campaign, aimed to make soil health more tangible for farmers. Vince's farm had been practicing no-till since the 1980s and had incorporated strip-tilling and cover crops like red clover into its rotation. Vince's 2012 corn yield after planting after a double-cut red clover cover crop was 15 bushels per acre higher than conventionally tilled corn. He attributed this improvement to the combination of strip-till, cover crops, and improved corn genetics. Red clover, as a legume, can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, potentially reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. Recent research has supported the benefits of red clover, with a Grain Farmers of Ontario project finding it yielded the highest corn crop among cover-crop treatments in 2022. Vince's approach emphasizes more than just one cover crop or buried underwear; it also involves strip-till farming, which minimizes soil disturbance and maintains cover residue on the soil surface. This combination has led to lower fuel use, fertilizer costs, and a focus on overall soil health. The underlying science continues to evolve, with studies showing that no-till systems with cover crops can increase soil microbial populations and resilience during drought. However, the simplicity and visual appeal of the cotton underwear test remain a powerful tool for encouraging farmers to engage with and better understand their soil's biological activities.",
  "summary": "Ontario farmer Blake Vince popularized burying cotton underwear to gauge soil activity. More decay may signal active microbes, though conditions affect results.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}