The goal of the study is to explore potential chromium resistant and nitrogen fixing, phosphate & potassium solubilizing bacteria from Sukinda mining area for bioremediation of Cr (VI) contaminated soil. In toto 25 bacteria were isolated, among them 14 isolates showed resistance to hexavalent chromium. Moreover, bacterial isolates such as Paenibacillus sp. CTSI-01, Micrococcus sp. CTWI-03 and Enterobacter sp. CTWI-06 were able to tolerate 3500ppm of Cr (VI) concentration. The bacterial isolates were affiliated to the genus such as Bacillus, Paenibacillus, Brevibacillus, Acinetobacter, Enterobacter, Micrococcus and Staphylococcus by morpho-physiological characterizations. Interestingly, amongst 14 chromium resistant bacteria, three isolates such as Micrococcus sp. CTSI-06, Enterobacter sp. CTWI-06 and Acinetobacter sp. CTWI-07 depicted nitrogen fixation, phosphate and potassium solubilization capability as revealed from solubility index. Thus, these potential chromium resistant and NPK activity showing locally isolated bacterial strains may be used for detoxification of Cr (VI) as well as to increase nutrient availability of chromium contaminated soils.

Download this article as