In the present study, bacterial species were isolated from Chlorpyrifos contaminated soils. These were identified as Bacillus and Micrococcus sp.. The species were tested for their capabilities to degrade the pesticide at two different concentrations (0.05% and 0.1%) spectrophotometrically. After 10 days of incubation maximum degradation of Chlorpyrifos was observed in Micrococcus sp. with 0.1% of pesticide. Also physicochemical parameters of the contaminated soil samples were tested and it was found that there was an increase in pH, Alkalinity, Salinity, Phosphorus content and decrease in moisture content of the soil when compared to the control soil that is unaffected by any pesticide, which proves the ability of pesticides to deteriorate soil quality. Thus, these isolated bacterial species could be used as potential candidates for bacterial mediated bioremediation of pesticide.

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