Field and laboratory evaluation of the efficacy of a bacterial consortium inoculant in reducing glyphosate herbicide residues in maize grains

The efficacy of bacterial consortium in reducing glyphosate remains poorly explored. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the bacterial consortium in degrading or reducing glyphosate under laboratory and field conditions. <i>In vitro</i> tests were conducted to assess the consortium's degrading capacity, and glyphosate residues in maize grains were quantified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) following the commercial organic amendment (COA) application. The results showed a significant decrease in glyphosate concentration treated with the microbial consortium, indicating its potential to degrade or transform the herbicide into secondary metabolites. In contrast, glyphosate remained stable over the same period, confirming the role of microbial activity in herbicide breakdown. Field experiments demonstrated that the bacterial consortium COA application markedly reduced glyphosate residues in maize grains, confirming its efficacy under agronomic conditions. These findings highlight the potential of bacterial consortium as a bioremediation tool to minimize glyphosate accumulation in agricultural systems and enhance food safety through sustainable management practices.