Plant uptake and in-soil degradation of PCB-5 under varying cropping conditions

► Investigating the uptake and in-soil degradation of PCB-5 under varying cropping conditions. ► Phytoextraction contributed insignificantly toward the loss of the soil-borne PCB-5. ► In-soil biodegradation contributed markedly to the observed reduction in soil-borne PCB-5. ► In-soil biodegradation of PCB-5 was significantly enhanced under intercropping conditions. ► Biodegradation of PCB-5 was mainly related to increased bacterial activities.