Tea Bag Index

The educational App Tea Bag Index (TBI) collects data on soil observations.

The educational App Tea Bag Index (TBI) collects data on soil observations and on soil decomposition dynamics in particular. The decomposition of organic matter in the soil is part of the global carbon cycle that provide information on the biological activity of the soil and is therefore important for climate change. Changes in the carbon content of soil can both intensify and mitigate climate change.

The citizen scientists may choose from 3 activities: 1) basic soil observations by recording soil colour, soil life and land use, 2) soil observations by studying soil texture by feel of doing the Spade test, 3) TBI. The TBI records the decomposition rates of buried tea bags (green tea and rooibos) within 3 months using a standardised method. The method can easily be performed by citizen scientists, such as students. The collected data is transmitted to the database of the Global Tea Bag Index Network (www.teatime4science.org).

Schools can easily include the TBI App in their curriculum. Teaching materials (soil observation with all senses, spade test, soil texture by feel, TBI) in the App increase the students´ knowledge of soil and the global carbon cycling.

Tea Bag Index App will further contribute to a strong connection between science and society by connecting each one of the activity categories to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Tea Bag Index runs on the SPOTTERON Citizen Science Plattform.