The increasing population density and industrialization are adversely affecting the environment globally. The contamination of the soil, agricultural lands, and water bodies with petroleum wastes and other hydrocarbon pollutants has become a serious environmental concern as perceived by the impacts on the aquatic and marine ecosystem. Various investigations have provided novel insights into the significant roles of microbial activities in the cleanup of hydrocarbon contaminants. However, the burden of these pollutants is expected to increase many folds in the next decade. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate and develop low-cost technologies rapidly, focusing on eco-sustainable development. An understanding of the details of biodegradation mechanisms paves the way for enhancing the efficiency of bioremediation technology. The current article reviews the applicability of various bioremediation processes, biodegradation pathways, and treatments, and the role of microbial activities in achieving efficient eco-sustainable bioremediation of hydrocarbon pollutants. It is envisaged that an integrated bioremediation approach, including biostimulation and bioaugmentation is preferably advocated for the cost-effective removal of toxic petroleum hydrocarbons and their derivatives.

The recycling of waste organic materials for energy and nutrient recovery has gained immense attention over all spheres of life especially during the past few years. There is an increasing trend of opting co-composting as a feasible technology for easy conversion of organic wastes into nutrient-rich manure. However, their success on direct field application still suffers from nutrient instability, volatility, pathogenic infection, etc., leading to the unprecedented nutrient loss and environmental contamination. Despite these limitations, co-composting offers a sustainable soil amending system whereby the bio-chemical ecology of the soil and crops can be synergistically preserved with enhanced productivity. In this review, a critical comparison is presented to comprehend the need for changing agricultural practices in view of modified soil nutrient dynamics by analyzing (i) the soil characteristics before sowing and after harvesting, (ii) the role of emerging wastes in composting processes, (iii) the methods of field application, and (iv) the agronomic characteristics of sugarcane crop in a composted soil. The study shows that the co-composting of sludge and agricultural waste resulted in maximum cane yield per hectare (150 to 315 tonnes). The sludge-based co-composting is found to retain soil nutrients for a prolonged duration thus promising nutrient sequestration and minimizing subsurface contamination.

This paper presents a critical review on the existing methodology of water quality assessment of lakes and reservoirs being used as a source of water supply and irrigation purposes. The seasonal and depth-wise variations in water quality are also analysed and presented through two case studies. It is inferred that water quality monitoring is a helpful tool not only to evaluate the impacts of pollution sources but also to ensure an efficient management of water resources and the protection of aquatic life. However, it is incomplete to make any meaningful prediction without correlating the prevailing catchment characteristics as well as imparting the scope for real-time action plan. The present study highlights a few strategic features causing variability in water quality and proposes a corroborative plan to address those issues.

The escalating concerns regarding the environmental and health consequences of synthetic pesticides have driven the exploration of safer and more sustainable alternatives for pest management. This study investigates the preparation of a biopesticide derived from the seeds of Annona squamosa (custard apple), an underutilized agro-waste rich in bioactive compounds, notably annonaceous acetogenins and isoquinoline alkaloids. The developed methodology encompasses systematic seed collection, shade drying, pulverization, Soxhlet extraction using isopropyl alcohol, and solvent recovery through simple distillation. The resulting biopesticide extract exhibited potent insecticidal activity against key agricultural pests—mealy bugs (Phenacoccus solenopsis), caterpillars (Spodoptera litura), and plant lice (Aphidoidea spp)—in controlled laboratory assays. Mortality rates exceeded 80% at optimized concentrations within 48–72 hours post-application, with minimal non-target impact. The novelty of this work lies in its demonstration of a low-cost, solvent-efficient, and scalable extraction process using a common laboratory Soxhlet apparatus to produce a natural biopesticide from agro-waste, yielding ≥18% bioextract with consistent bioefficacy and >90% solvent recovery. Unlike previous studies that focused on crude methanolic or aqueous extracts, this research delivers a semi-purified formulation with confirmed stability and repeatable insecticidal performance. Additionally, comparative analyses reveal advantages over conventional synthetic pesticides in terms of biodegradability, ecological safety, and target specificity. This study highlights the immense potential of A. squamosa seeds in promoting circular bioeconomy approaches and delivering eco-friendly pest management tools, contributing significantly to sustainable agriculture and integrated pest management systems.