Degradation ability of indigenous bacteria from pesticide-contaminated water and soil in Brebes Regency, Indonesia

Abstract

Brebes regency is the center of shallot cultivation in Indonesia. Chemical pesticides are very frequent and widely used to control pest and disease of shallot. The use of chemical pesticides adversely affects human health and the environment. Bioremediation of pesticide-contaminated environments using microbes that come directly from the polluted environment is a promising, effective, and harmless for the environment. Indigenous-bacteria could be the eminent agent because they are able to remediate pesticides with a high level of effectiveness compared to agents from outside the environment. This is needed to solve the problem of pesticide pollutants that have no solution in Brebes Regency and other agricultural areas. The aim of this research was to obtain bacterial isolates that can degrade pesticide contamination by exploring bacteria in a polluted environment. This research was conducted by isolating bacteria and characterizing the existing bacteria in the shallot cultivation from Brebes Regency. Bacteria were taken from soil and water in the shallot cultivation and irrigation channels. The research methods include biochemical tests, pesticide degradation abilty test. Four isolates were promising to be potential pesticide-degrading agent. The prospect of this research is could produce a product in the formula of bacteria which can be a pesticide-bioremediation agent.