Treatment of Malathion by using Plant-Bacteria Consortia in Constructed Wetlands
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53560/PPASB(62-4)1122Keywords:
Biodegradation, Organophosphate Pesticide, Colorimetric Analysis, Constructed Wetlands, Plant Microbes, Rhizosphere Interaction, Environmental SustainabilityAbstract
Malathion, a widely used organophosphate pesticide, poses serious environmental and health risks due to its persistence and toxicity. This study investigates the bioremediation potential of bacterial consortia and plant-bacterial systems in constructed wetland settings for the degradation of malathion-contaminated soil at varying concentrations (50, 100, and 200 mg/L). The four consortia (C1-C4) were constructed from three purified soil isolates and mixed in equal proportions and two plant species (Canna indica and Mentha arvensis) were tested individually and in combination over an eight-week period. All isolates were characterized by Gram staining and basic biochemical tests and identified as Gram-positive, catalase-negative Bacillus spp.; species-level molecular identification was not performed. Colorimetric analysis revealed that all bacterial treatments (bacteria + soil) achieved high removal efficiencies, showing degradation rates between 99.2% and 99.78% at 50mg/L and 100mg/L, reaching up to 99.99% at 200 mg/L in seventh week. Plant-based treatments also exhibited robust degradation, achieving up to 99.8% efficiency by the first week and reaching 100% in the third week at higher concentrations. Efficiency was generally higher at greater malathion concentrations, suggesting possible enzyme induction or microbial adaptation. Soil parameter analysis confirmed active microbial and plant-based remediation, with shifts in pH, organic matter, nitrate, sodium, and potassium supporting degradation processes. While bacterial consortia acted more rapidly, plant systems contributed significantly to sustained removal. Two-way ANOVA confirmed significant effects of time and pesticide dose on degradation efficiency across all treatments. Overall, all treatments achieved > 99% malathion degradation, with bacterial and plant-bacterial consortia showing promise as effective, low-cost, and environmentally friendly strategies for remediating pesticide-contaminated soils.
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