A farmer buried his underwear in the field to measure soil fertility. And science proves him right

A farmer in South Cambridgeshire buried 100% cotton underwear in a field to get a quick read on soil health.

If the cotton breaks down a lot, it suggests high microbial activity; if it stays mostly intact, the soil may be poor or heavily disturbed.

The “Soil Your Undies” challenge is a low-cost, science-backed awareness tool for soil biology and sustainable farming.

It can help spotlight microbial diversity, but it does not replace full agronomic tests such as pH or nutrient analysis.