SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Agron.
Sec. Plant-Soil Interactions
This article is part of the Research TopicSide Effects of Pesticides on Crops, Agricultural Systems and Associated BiodiversityView all articles
MULTIFUNCTIONAL BIOLOGICAL APPROACHES FOR ENHANCED PESTICIDE REMOVAL IN AGROECOSYSTEMS: A PATH TOWARDS SOIL REMEDIATION
Provisionally accepted
Victor Hugo Cruz
Henzo Henrique SimionattoEmanuella Roberto Ribeiro
Yanca Araujo FriasThalia Silva Valério
Paulo Renato Matos Lopes*- Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho, São Paulo, Brazil
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The widespread and indiscriminate use of pesticides in modern agriculture has caused severe environmental contamination, significantly affecting terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, as well as non-target organisms. To meet this challenge, it is necessary to improve bioremediation techniques such as phytoremediation, bioaugmentation, biostimulation and vermiremediation. The key findings highlight the synergistic potential of combining these approaches to accelerate pesticide degradation and improve remediation outcomes. Plant families such as Fabaceae and Poaceae demonstrate a significant ability for phytoremediation, with species such as Canavalia ensiformis and Zea mays excelling in the remediation of herbicides and insecticides. Microbial genera, such as Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Streptomyces, play a key role as essential contributors to the degradation process, especially when associated with plants. The integration of organic additives, such as vinasse, further improves the interactions between plants, microbes, and soil fauna, increasing the efficiency of remediation. Additionally, the role of vermiremediation using earthworms such as Eisenia foetida to improve soil aeration and microbial activity receives attention. Therefore, by combining phytoremediation with bioaugmentation, biostimulation, and vermiremediation, these approaches offer a scalable and sustainable pathway to accelerate pollutant degradation, restore soil health, and promote agricultural sustainability. Future research should focus on the optimization of these techniques, the exploration of genetic advances to enhance microbial and plant remediation capabilities, and the assessment of their feasibility at a global scale. These efforts are vital for mitigating the environmental impacts of pesticides and promoting a more resilient agricultural system.
Keywords: bioaugmentation, biostimulation, Persistent Organic Pollutants, Phytoremediation, Vermiremediation
Received: 15 Aug 2025; Accepted: 08 Dec 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Cruz, Simionatto, Ribeiro, Araujo Frias, Valério and Lopes. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Paulo Renato Matos Lopes
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