Pesticide Degrading Ability of Indigenous-Bacteria from Contaminated Cropland in Kersana, Brebes Regency, Indonesia

Abstract

Kersana is one of the central shallot-producing districts in Brebes Regency. Synthetic pesticides are widely and usually used in this cropland, and it has caused pollution of soil and water. Bioremediation can be one of the solutions to overcome this problem by using indigenous-bacteria from contaminated soil and water as biological agents. This research was purposed to isolate and identify pesticide degrading bacteria from shallot fields in Kersana, Brebes regency. Twenty-three (23) isolates were obtained in the isolation process. Those isolates were tested for biochemical characterizations which are potassium hydroxide test, proteolytic test, amylolytic test, and catalase test and potential test which are hypersensitive reaction test and pesticide degradation ability test. Based on the biochemical test and pesticide degradation ability test, all isolates have an ability to live under a pesticide contaminated environment and thirteen (13) isolates were suspected to be safe for application in the field. These results suggest that indigenous bacteria can help reduce pollution due to the use of pesticides in an environmentally friendly way.