Soil Scientists Buried 2,000 Pairs of Underwear to Prove a Point
Talk about airing our dirty laundry.
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Researchers in Switzerland have completed an unconventional experiment to assess soil health across the country. Scientists buried over 2,000 pairs of cotton underwear in various locations including gardens, meadows, fields, and lawns. After two months, the team excavated the garments to evaluate the extent of decomposition, which served as an indicator of biological soil activity and overall soil quality.
The findings, published in Plants, People, Planet, revealed significant differences in soil health depending on land use patterns. Private gardens showed the most active decomposition, with approximately 58 percent of cotton degraded after two months. In contrast, lawn areas displayed the least decomposition at around 40 percent. These results suggest that land management practices directly influence the abundance of soil organisms such as worms, fungi, and bacteria that facilitate nutrient cycling and ecosystem functions.
The research team, led by scientists at the University of Zurich, proposes an “Underpants Index” as a simple tool for measuring and communicating soil quality to the broader public. The project highlights a critical concern: topsoil degradation threatens food production and biodiversity worldwide. While private gardens demonstrated superior biological activity and nutrient levels, the study also identified potential problems, including excessive fertilizer accumulation that may harm nearby waterways and local ecosystems.
The unconventional approach proved effective in raising awareness about soil as a vulnerable resource. The underwear experiment, assisted by 1,000 volunteers, represents a shift toward more accessible citizen science methods for tracking environmental health.
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Originally reported by Sciencealert →
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