Isolation and Evaluation of Indigenous Bacteria From Bandungan Agricultural Soil For Lead Bioremediation

Abstract

Lead (Pb) contamination in agricultural environments poses serious risks to ecosystem sustainability and human health. Bioremediation using indigenous bacteria has emerged as an environmentally friendly approach to reducing heavy metal pollution. The objective of this study was to isolate and evaluate indigenous bacteria from Bandungan agricultural soil for lead bioremediation potential. Soil samples were collected from the farmland, and bacterial isolates were obtained using serial dilution and spread plate methods. The bacterial isolates were characterized based on colony morphology and Gram-staining characteristics to determine their preliminary taxonomic properties and microscopic observation, while Pb bioremediation potential was evaluated using a Pb reduction test over 16 days of incubation. The results showed that all isolates were able to survive in Pb-containing media and exhibited varying levels of Pb reduction efficiency. Pb reduction efficiency ranged from 63.57% to 74.78%, with Isolate 1 demonstrating the highest reduction ability. Morphological and microscopic characterization revealed variation among isolates, with most bacteria identified as Gram-negative. The ability of indigenous bacteria to reduce Pb may be related to adaptive mechanisms such as biosorption and bioaccumulation. In conclusion, indigenous bacteria isolated from Bandungan agricultural soil showed promising potential for Pb bioremediation and could be further developed as environmentally friendly agents to reduce heavy metal contamination in agricultural environments.