What 2,000 Buried Underpants Revealed About Where Soil is Most Alive
Summary
StudyFinds reports on a Swiss citizen science project where about 1,000 participants buried over 2,000 pairs of cotton underwear and 12,000 tea bags to gauge soil biological activity. The Underpants Index shows soil activity varies by land use, with private gardens highest and lawns lowest, and links decomposition rates to nutrient availability. The article notes methodological limits and cautions that high nutrient levels do not automatically indicate overall soil health.