Swiss Scientists Propose "Underwear Index" for Soil Health
About 1,000 volunteers buried more than 2,000 pairs of cotton underwear, and private gardens showed the fastest breakdown, researchers said.
- Five years ago, 1,000 volunteers buried more than 2,000 pairs of cotton underwear across Switzerland to measure soil biological activity. The experiment revealed how land management shapes the hidden communities beneath our feet.
- The 'Proof by Underpants' project, published in Plants, People, Planet, aimed to raise awareness about soil ecosystems while generating comprehensive data on biological activity across the nation.
- Private gardens showed the fastest decomposition, with 58 percent of the cotton disappearing in two months, while lawns exhibited the lowest biological activity, averaging only 40 percent decomposition.
- Co-Project leader Franz Bender, head of the agroecological assessments team at Agroscope, notes the 'underwear index' can determine soil health, but warns "maximum decomposition is not desirable in every ecosystem."
- Scientists emphasize that soils are rapidly degrading, threatening food production and biodiversity, making this playful outreach tool vital for raising public awareness about protecting underground communities.
41 Articles
41 Articles
Those who heard that thousands of pieces of underwear were buried in the field couldn't believe their eyes. The scientific truth behind this method, which spread rapidly worldwide and was initially considered madness by many, has been revealed. What happened to the fabrics left in the soil for two months marked a new era for Swiss scientists.
An unusual experiment in Switzerland used thousands of pieces of underwear to investigate the activity of organisms living under the earth.What happenedFive years after the start of the project, scientists concluded that the way the sun
Assessing soil health with underpants
We watched as the two young boys stuck their shovels in the ground and painstakingly dug up the remains of the underpants. Most of the organic cotton fabric had decomposed in the 2 months that the underpants had been buried. “The worms, insects, and bacteria ate most of our underpants!” they exclaimed. “We have good soil!”
Why did scientists ask 1,000 Swiss people to bury their underwear? What the buried 'underpants' could reveal about soil - The unusual science of measuring soil health
The decomposition of cotton underwear has unveiled notable differences in soil biological activity throughout Switzerland. Private gardens displayed the most rapid decomposition rates, highlighting the presence of abundant organic matter and active microorganisms. Conversely, lawns showed minimal organism activity, with agricultural fields and meadows falling in a moderate range. This study emphasizes how land use significantly affects underwear…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 52% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
