Second-generation biorefinery refers to the production of different types of biofuels, biomaterials, and biochemicals by using agri-based and other lignocellulosic biomasses as substrates, which do not compete with arable lands, water for irrigation, and food supply. From the perspective of transportation fuels, second-generation bioethanol plays a crucial role in minimizing the dependency on fossil-based fuels, especially gasoline. Significant efforts have been invested in the research and development of second-generation bioethanol for commercialization in both developing and developed countries. However, in different developing countries like India, commercialization of second-generation bioethanol has been obstructed despite the abundance and variety of agricultural feedstocks. This commercial obstruction was majorly attributed to the recalcitrance of the feedstock, by-product management, and marginal subsidies compared to other nations. This article reviews the major roadblocks to the viability and commercialization of second-generation biofuels, especially bioethanol in India and a few other leading developed and developing nations. This article also reviews the biomass availability, technological advancements, investments, policies, and scale-up potential for biorefineries. A thorough discussion is made on the prospects and barriers to research, development, and demonstration as well as strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for the commercialization of second-generation bioethanol.

The impact of climate change on agricultural crops is a major concern and threats to the global food security. It also limits the potential of crops and cropping system in a given area. Therefore, the present study was aimed to assess the combined effect of positive (CO2 fertilization, lesser temperature and higher rainfall) and negative (higher temperature, lower rainfall) impacts of the futuristic climatic scenarios on productivity of soybean using APSIM (Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator) model. We have followed the Climate-Crop Modeling Project (C3MP) methodology and generated ninety-nine sensitive test to achieve each test’s temperature, rainfall and CO2 concentration range. Using 30 years of climate data (1980-2010) of Central India as base, the simulation results showed that increasing CO2 concentrations alone resulted in increased soybean yield. Similarly, reduction in rainfall amount indicated negative impact on it. This effect further compounded with increase in temperature and thus, reduced soybean yield. Increasing the temperature with 10% decrease in rainfall declined the soybean yield by 10%. Whereas, increase in temperature along with increase in rainfall also not resulted favorably soybean growth. Decreasing the temperature from the base by 1oC and increasing the rainfall by more than 10% benefitted the soybean productivity, whereas increasing the temperature by 1oC with no change in rainfall resulted decline in soybean productivity by 10-15%.

The impacts of Co nanoparticles (NPs) on the anaerobic digestion (AD) of cow dung were investigated using kinetic models (modified Gompertze, logistic, and first-order) and experimental measurements. The deviation between the predicted and measured data for biogas yield with modified Gompertze and logistic models were 0.66–2.26% and 1.43–4.19%, respectively. The addition of Co NPs (1–3 mg/L) improved the hydrolysis rate (K) value by 66.66–144% compared with the control. Furthermore, the fertilizer efficiency of effluent with Co NPs was comparable to that of commercial NPK compound fertilizer. The combination of kinetic models and experimental measurements can effectively quantify the impact of Co NPs on AD performance and provide an informed choice for industrial production. Graphical abstract

The rising demand for sustainable energy sources has necessitated the exploration of crops with enhanced biofuel production potential. Quality Protein Maize (QPM) offers a promising alternative for biofuel research due to its unique biochemical composition and high biomass yield. This study evaluated QPM inbred lines for biofuel potential through morpho-biochemical analysis. Key morphological traits, including plant height, leaf area, stalk diameter and grain yield, were assessed. Biochemical profiling measured cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin content in stover and kernels. Initial screening identified 30 high-performing lines for further biochemical evaluation. The lignocellulosic stover biomass exhibited cellulose content ranging from 28.05 % to 37.05 %, hemicellulose from 7.06 % to 15.81 % and lignin from 20.65 % to 28.35 %. In contrast, biochemical profiling of the kernel revealed significantly higher cellulose content (65.36 % to 75.02 %), lower hemicellulose levels (1.09 % to 4.45 %) and lignin content ranging from 3.56 % to 6.07 %. Inbred lines DQL 2037 and DQL 222-1-1 exhibited significantly (p=0.05) superior mean performance for biofuel-related morphological traits. Inbred lines DQL 2159, DQL 222-1-1 and DQL 2272 exhibited significantly higher cellulose of 37.05, 35.98 and 35.53 %, respectively along with a significantly lower lignin content of 20.65, 22.25 and 22.53 % respectively in maize stover. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and correlation matrix techniques were employed to identify key traits contributing to variability and to cluster genotypes with superior biofuel-related traits. The identification of high-performing inbred lines with favourable lignocellulosic profiles provides a strong foundation for breeding programs focused on developing maize genotypes tailored for biofuel production. This study highlights the potential of QPM inbred lines as a renewable resource for biofuel production and provides a framework for breeding strategies aimed at enhancing biofuel efficiency.

The effects of climate change on crop yields vary greatly from region to region across the globe. The projected climate change will also adversely affect soil quality by changing its physiochemical and biological properties. The soil's biological properties and processes are primarily mediated by microbial diversity and their distribution. The presence of soil microbes facilitates the production of greenhouse gases (GHGs). The microorganism also responded to global warming and climate change by either producing greenhouse gases or utilizing them in the environment. Soil microorganisms can recycle and transform the essential elements such as carbon and nitrogen that make up cells. Even small changes in the soil moisture content result in a change in the microbial habitat, particularly the fungal communities. However, the bacterial communities remain intact. The increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide not only increases methane production from the soil but also reduces the uptake of methane by up to 30% in the soil microbial population. The microbial communities of the tree leaves act on plant residue during this process. The increase in temperature is likely to accelerate the rate of decomposition that emits carbon dioxide from the soil. However, higher temperatures also elevate soil nitrogen levels, which suppresses the rates of fungal decomposition. This affects microbial communities. At the same time, trees and shrubs that advance towards the north in the tundra under the influence of temperature alteration can also influence microbes in unknown ways through the shadows they cast on the ground.

This study explores the genetic diversity, biochemical composition and trait associations in maize (Zea mays L.) to assess its potential as a dual-purpose crop for food and biofuel production. Significant variations in lignocellulosic traits among the evaluated genotypes indicate opportunities for enhancing bioethanol yields. A comparative biochemical study reveals the cellulose content in the kernel is 2.15 times higher than in stover, whereas the hemicellulose and lignin content in stover are 4.6 times and 5.3 times higher, respectively, compared to the kernel. The inbred lines DQL 2159, DQL 222-1-1 and DQL 2272 exhibited significantly higher cellulose contents of 37.05 %, 35.98 % and 35.53 %, respectively, along with significantly lower lignin contents of 20.65 %, 22.25 % and 22.53 % in maize stover. Correlation analysis shows that shoot dry weight (rp = 0.29), stalk diameter (rp = 0.33) and plant height (rp = 0.48) are positively associated with biomass yield. Biochemical studies reveal a strong negative correlation (rp = -0.59) between kernel lignin and kernel cellulose content, indicating that higher cellulose leads to lower lignin. This finding is valuable for selecting high-cellulose, low-lignin genotypes. Path coefficient analysis further identifies plant height, number of leaves per plant, stalk diameter and kernel cellulose content as key contributors to grain yield, suggesting that selection for these traits could enhance biofuel production. Identifying desirable traits that enhance biofuel efficiency, such as high cellulose and low lignin content, enables targeted breeding for improved biomass conversion. Cluster analysis revealed that Cluster III exhibited superior performance across the majority of traits evaluated, making it the most promising group for utilization in biofuel breeding programs. Notably, genotypes such as DQL 2037, DQL 2272, DQL 2159 and DQL 222-1-1 emerge as promising candidates for biofuel applications due to their high grain and stover yields, alongside elevated cellulose and hemicellulose content. Collectively, these findings provide a comprehensive framework for targeted breeding strategies aimed at developing high-yielding, biofuel-efficient maize cultivars for climate smart agriculture systems.