Microbial consortia for the bioremediation of atrazine-contaminated soils: Advances, challenges, and prospects

Abstract

Atrazine contamination is a pressing global concern, with over 70,000 tons applied annually, leading to persistent pollution in soils and groundwater. Conventional remediation approaches are often costly, disruptive, and inefficient, prompting interest in microbial consortia as a sustainable and ecologically sound alternative. This review aims to critically assess recent advances in the use of microbial consortia for atrazine bioremediation, focusing on their degradation mechanisms, key microbial players, design strategies, field performance, and practical implementation challenges. A comprehensive literature review methodology was employed, analyzing peer-reviewed studies on microbial pathways, consortium design, optimization techniques, and regulatory frameworks. The review also evaluates field trials conducted across various agro-ecological zones. Findings indicate that microbial consortia consistently outperform single strains, achieving 70–95% atrazine degradation under optimal conditions. Synergistic interactions among degraders (e.g., Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter) and supporting taxa (e.g., Bacillus, Rhizobium) enhance both degradation rates and stability. Advanced tools such as omics technologies, machine learning, and synthetic biology have enabled rational consortium engineering. However, field deployment remains constrained by environmental variability, scalability issues, and regulatory bottlenecks. Economic analysis reveals consortium-based methods are significantly cheaper ($50–150/m³) than conventional approaches ($300–800/m³), making them economically attractive for large-scale remediation. This review concludes that microbial consortia offer a viable and cost-effective strategy for atrazine remediation, particularly in agricultural soils. Their success depends on integrating biological insights with engineering, economic, and regulatory considerations. Consortium-based bioremediation holds significant promise for sustainable agriculture, environmental protection, and reducing chemical input reliance. Future efforts should focus on optimizing strain combinations, enhancing field resilience, and developing standardized application protocols for widespread adoption.