Researchers propose combining biochar, Pseudomonas bacteria, and jack bean to clean atrazine from farm soil. The integrated system uses biochar to adsorb the herbicide, bacteria to mineralise it, and the legume's root exudates to support microbial activity. Biochar also sequesters an estimated 2.2 to 3.0 tons of CO2 equivalent per ton applied, linking soil remediation to carbon removal. Atrazine remains widely used in Brazil, with about 22,000 tons commercialised in 2023, even though the EU banned it in 2004. The authors stress that field trials are still needed, especially to confirm that introduced bacteria can survive competition from native soil microbes. If those trials succeed, the approach could become a practical option for pesticide-contaminated farmland while improving soil fertility.
