Researchers are careful to note that the Underpants Index most strongly reflects soil fertility, meaning nutrient availability, rather than soil health in the f

Researchers are careful to note that the Underpants Index most strongly reflects soil fertility, meaning nutrient availability, rather than soil health in the fullest sense. A soil loaded with nutrients will break down cotton fast, but that does not automatically mean the soil is in good ecological condition. In natural ecosystems like meadows or forests, very high nutrient levels often signal human disturbance, not health, and can drive out rare plant species. To me, this is a more interesting finding than Lawn=Bad, Garden=Good. Natural ecosystems should not have exceedingly high nutrients, which may benefit invasive plants. It sounds similar to algae blooms in ponds caused by fertilizer runoff.