Why did 1,000 Swiss citizens bury their underpants?

In a unique citizen science project, 1,000 Swiss residents buried their cotton underpants for two months as part of a study to map out soil health across the country, according to findings published in the journal Plants People Planet. Co-author Marcel van der Heijden, an agroecologist at the University of Zurich, explained that the experiment revealed how soil management can significantly impact both soil life and soil quality.

Healthy soil is vital for fertility, nutrient cycling, and various ecosystem services. Soil health, crucial for agriculture and food security, has been declining worldwide. Researchers measured decomposition rates of complex organic matter, such as decomposing leaves, wood, and even cadavers, as an indicator of soil health. Previous small-scale studies have shown that human activities can greatly influence soil biological diversity.