I know the type of soil matters so lets go almost worst case, lets not go
so far as to say it has a high salt content.
Do you think it may last a year or so?

Thanks Joe
KI4ILB

Depends on the soil... If it is acidic the aluminum will last a long
time, mebbee forever... If it is alkaline and damp, like the Borax
mines in Utah, it will corrode away in months... So, depends upon if
you are East or West of the Missippi...
This effect is lessened if the metal is laying on top of the dirt, or
even on top of the thatch... Long story short I have some in "the
weeds / on the ground" aluminium radials in my 160 arrays and they
look just fine after eight years in Michigan...

My gut feeling is you will be fine for a year...

denny / k8do