Farmers will be digging up their underpants for next month’s Cereals 2017 in Lincolnshire after burying them to gauge soil health.
Brian Barker of Stowmarket, and Russell McKenzie of Huntingdon AHDB monitor farms will bring their findings - and pants - to the event to feature in a debate to be held at the AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds stand at 11.30am on June 14 and 15.
The cotton underwear reveals the level of soil microbial activity and can be used to pinpoint ways to improve soil health.
Brian was one of the pioneers of pants-burying in the UK, having found out about a similar experiment in Ontario, Canada.
“Our soil is at the mercy of our tillage equipment. The over-winter plough field pants were virtually intact, compared to the over-winter cover crop field pants which were completely shredded,” he said.
AHDB’s Tim Isaac said while it sounded like a bit of fun, it could give an insight.
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