PurposePesticide contamination in soil is big problem which affect soil health and crop yield. Problem of pesticide contamination in soil can be prevented by using ecofriendly and sustainable remediation techniques.MethodsThree-year field experiment was conducted in 2017-18, 2018-19 ad 2019-20 at pesticide contaminated field identified through field survey. Four cropping systems (CS) i.e. Wheat-Mungbean (CS1), Wheat-Maize (CS2), Potato-Mungbean (CS3) and Potato- Maize (CS4) and six nutrient management (NM) treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated thrice.ResultsResults showed that legume-based CS resulted to lowest pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and pesticide residue i.e. Imidacloprid and bifenthrin while highest total organic C, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable K, bacterial population (CFU x 109), microbial biomass C (MBC) and microbial biomass N (MBN) as compared to non-legume CS. Similarly, in case of NM, improved soil health traits were observed for NM5 as compared to control. MBN remained highest under NM5 and positive relationship was observed between soil total organic carbon and organic matter with MBC and MBN content of soil. Hence it can be concluded that legume and biofertilizers can effectively reduce pesticide residues, improve soil health and crop yield under pesticide contaminated soil. However, an optimal combination of chemical and bio-fertilizers are needed with long-term induction of legume in the cropping system for reclamation of pesticide contaminated field.ConclusionsPesticide contaminated field could be reclaimed by using legume based cropping system with application of biofertilizers. Furthermore, legume should be part of existing cropping system as they can help to improve soil health indicators i.e. MBC and MBN.