What 2,000 Buried Underpants Revealed About Where Soil Is Most Alive
What 2000 Buried Underpants Revealed About Where Soil Is Most Alive
A Swiss citizen science project buried over 2,000 pairs of cotton underwear and 12,000 tea bags across 1,000 sites to measure soil biological activity. After two months, decomposition rates revealed that private gardens had the most active soil (58% decomposed), while lawns had the least (40%). The study, published in Plants, People, Planet, also found that some private gardens had excessive phosphorus levels, potentially harming waterways. The simple 'Underpants Index' proved nearly as accurate as lab analysis, making soil health assessment accessible to anyone.
A soil loaded with nutrients will break down cotton fast, but that does not automatically mean the soil is in good ecological condition.