Pesticides, although used in large amounts in agriculture for pest and disease control, have a long-term presence in the soil, bringing about negative impacts on the ecosystems and people. However, one of the possibilities for dealing with the issue is through the microbial degradation of the contaminants, which is a safe and sustainable method for environmental remediation. The study was conducted to find out if the soil bacteria which can fix nitrogen, could also degrade pesticides. The soil samples collected from the vicinity of the plants were handled with care to purify and isolate the bacteria, which were later inoculated on Nitrogen-Free Bromothymol Blue (NFB) medium, where the transition from green to blue in color signifying the nitrogen fixation, was monitored. The isolates underwent the identification process, including visual and biochemical tests, and these involved catalase activity tests, among others. The pesticide-degrading capacity of mass cultures cultivated in Luria Bertani hi-veg broth was tested by agar diffusion, and the results were corroborated by HPLC assay. The findings clearly showed the isolation of nitrogen-fixing Gram-positive short bacilli that were able to degrade the Eurolux pesticide by 23.3%. HPLC confirmation supported the degradation, resulting in expressing their potential as bioremediation agents. The study highlighted that nitrogen-fixing bacteria enhance soil fertility through nitrogen fixation and reduce harmful pesticide residues. These microbes are vital for developing eco-friendly, sustainable farming methods that boost productivity and protect the environment.
