Rotting cotton

On today's GQT, they said something about putting cotton into the ground and seeing how quickly it rots to test the quality of the soil.
Has anybody heard about that anywhere? It is the first I had ever heard of it.

There was a thing a year or so ago, the underwear challenge.  You put a pair of 100% cotton panties and if it rots to nothing but the elastic in so many months you know your soil is healthy.

I think it started from this https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-41843852

What did they call it? “Soil your pants”? I can see the rationale behind it but it doesn't sound really scientific
Should have brought that up on 1st April, shouldn't I.

It could be interesting to try, I have soils that range from old pasture not tilled in over 30 years, to arable field which is tilled every year to wooded areas that haven't been touched in 50 years and then the lawn which has been lawn with a huge tree on it for over 100 years. It would be quite interesting to see if there is any difference in the vanishing speed between the various spots. I might sacrifice a tea towel however rather than underwear.