Soil pollution from intensive pesticide use poses a noteworthy universal risk to agrarian sustainability and ecological wellbeing. This study investigated influence of pesticides usage on soil bacterial abundance, diversity and residual pesticides. Soil samples were collected from pesticide-contaminated Farms, analyzed for physicochemical parameters, pesticide residues, and bacterial populations following standard protocols. Results showed that Aldrin (0.53-1.53 ppb), Endrin ketone (0.01-1.90 ppb), Heptachlor (0.07- 2.8ppb) and P, P1-DDT (0.25- 2.25 ppb) were the organochlorine pesticide (OCP) residues with the highest frequency of detection while Gamma-BHC was completely absent across Farms. The least OCP concentrations were found in control soil. The highest organochlorine residues were 2.25 ppb (P, P1-DDT), 2.42 ppb (Alpha- Chlordane) 2.80 ppb (Heptachlor) and 0.61 ppb (P, P1-DDD) while organophosphate residues were 4.24 ppb (Azinphos-ethyl), 3.24 ppb (Azinphos-ethyl). 3.53ppb (EPN) and 1.70 ppb (Chloropyriphos-methyl) for control, Farms 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Farm 2 recorded the highest organophosphate pesticide residues with Azimophos- ethyl and Pyraclofos having the highest frequency of detection among soils. Total heterotrophic bacteria were 64.0 ×104 ± 5.01 CFU/g, 97.3×104 ± 4.16 CFU/g, 82.1×104 ± 4.01 CFU/g, 74.5×104 ± 3.04 CFU/g for control, Farm I, Farm II and Farm III, respectively. Actinomycete counts were highest in control and least in Farm I. Bacterial isolates identified tentatively included species of Staphylococcus, Arthrobacter, Alkaligenes, Micrococcus, Chryseobacterium, Klebsiella, Bacillus, Paenibacillus, Pseudomonas, Proteus and Streptomyces. Bacillus subtilis made up 23.08% of bacteria in control; pesticide soil was dominated by Bacillus subtilis (28.57%) and Paenibacillus polymyxa (17.14%). These findings highlight potential ecological risks, persistence of banned pesticides, and need for improved pesticide management to safeguard soil health and food safety. Understanding these interactions is crucial, as microorganisms play key roles in overall soil fertility; emphasizing the need for careful pesticide management to balance pest control with the preservation of soil biological and chemical integrity.
