This research identifies a special bacterium called Priestia megaterium P-7 that can efficiently break down di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), a harmful plastic chemical that accumulates in cotton field soils. Scientists found that this bacterium can completely remove DBP from contaminated soil within 20 hours under optimal conditions. By studying the bacterium’s genes and metabolism, they discovered the specific enzymes and pathways it uses to degrade DBP into harmless compounds. This finding offers a practical biological solution for cleaning up contaminated agricultural soils, particularly in Xinjiang where plastic film mulching is widely used in cotton farming.