A nationwide experiment in Switzerland had 1,000 volunteers bury cotton underpants for two months to measure soil health across different land uses. The study, published in *Plants People Planet*, found that soil management practices significantly alter decomposition rates of organic matter, a key indicator of soil quality.
Researchers led by agroecologist Marcel van der Heijden at the University of Zurich concluded that biologically active soil is essential for fertility, nutrient cycling, and broader ecosystem services. The project aimed to fill gaps in large-scale data on how land use—such as agriculture, urbanization, or conservation—affects soil biology.
The findings underscore the global decline in soil health and its implications for food security and environmental stability. The study provides a simple but effective method for communities to assess soil quality locally.
