Soil quality assessment in agricultural lands of an industrializing region of India.

Soil degradation due to industrialization is a growing global concern, emphasizing the importance of evaluating soil quality near industrial zones to ensure food security, environmental sustainability, and public health. This study compares soil quality across five industrial sites, including foundries, electroplating, paper mills, textile mills, and quarries and cement industries, in the Coimbatore district. Soil samples were collected via a purposive sampling approach from nearby agricultural fields via a 500 m grid.