Aug 2026· International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research· 0 citations· 45 references
Abstract
The increasing generation of lignocellulosic agricultural residues presents both an environmental challenge and an opportunity for resource recovery within the circular bioeconomy. In Tanzania, banana leaves and sugarcane bagasse are among the most abundant biodegradable wastes generated from agricultural activities, local markets, and sugarcane juice vendors. These residues are commonly disposed of through open dumping or burning, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, environmental pollution, and the loss of valuable biomass resources. This study investigated an integrated biomass valorization strategy that converts banana leaves and sugarcane bagasse into edible oyster mushrooms and nutrient-rich biofertilizer through a circular resource recovery pathway.
Four substrate treatments were evaluated for physicochemical properties, mushroom growth, yield, nutritional quality, and spent-substrate compost quality. Substrate composition significantly affected performance. Although pure banana leaves supported the fastest mycelial colonization, the 2:1 banana-leaf-to-bagasse mixture produced the highest biological efficiency (60%), cap diameter (8.0 cm), and crude protein content (31.0%). It also generated the best compost, containing 1.5% nitrogen, 0.7% phosphorus, 2.0% potassium, and a 16:1 C:N ratio. The findings demonstrate a practical, low-cost strategy for Tanzania and comparable regions, reducing agricultural waste, producing nutritious food, improving soil fertility, supporting climate-smart agriculture, and advancing SDGs 2, 11, 12, and 13.
The valorization of lignocellulosic residues and unconventional plant biomass offers a promising strategy for sustainable mushroom production within a circular bioeconomy framework. This study evaluated the suitability of four substrates, namely wheat straw, Typha latifolia (cattail) biomass, Ampelodesmos mauritanicus biomass, and coffee waste, for the cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus. The effects of two concentrations of glucose and potassium oxide on fungal colonization and fruiting performance were investigated under laboratory-scale conditions. The hypothesis was that substrate composition and nutrient supplementation would differentially influence mycelial development and mushroom production. Mycelial growth was evaluated through daily measurements of colony expansion, whereas fruiting performance was assessed through mushroom yield. Substrate type significantly affected both mycelial growth and yield. A. mauritanicus showed high potential for mycelial colonization, particularly after supplementation with glucose (20 g/L) or potassium (10 g/L). For fruiting body production, potassium supplementation improved cattail performance, with the highest yield obtained with 20 g/L potassium. Glucose and potassium supplementation also enhanced the productivity of A. mauritanicus. All tested fertilization concentrations increased P. ostreatus fructification from 1.5 to 8%, except when glucose was added to the coffee waste substrate. The tested supplementation rates had substrate-dependent effects, confirming that nutrient addition did not produce a universal response. Mineral analysis of harvested mushrooms revealed differences in nutritional composition among treatments. These results highlight the potential of cattail and A. mauritanicus biomass as alternative substrates for P. ostreatus cultivation. Further economic feasibility studies are required before scale-up applications.
A. Slama, F. Mezni, M. Khammassi et al.· Environment and Resource· 0 citations
The increasing generation of waste is a global challenge with particularly severe impacts in Southeast Asia, where agricultural and industrial lignocellulosic residues are often underutilized or inadequately managed. Major waste streams include sugarcane bagasse, Albizia chinensis woodchips, and cassava pulp. This study demonstrates that these abundant residues can be effectively valorized as feedstocks for the production of high-performance mycelium-based composite materials with an average density of approximately 365 kg/m3. Sugarcane bagasse and Albizia chinensis woodchips serve as effective base substrates supporting stable mycelial growth of Ganoderma lucidum, while cassava pulp functions as a nutrient-rich carbohydrate supplement that influences composite microstructure and mechanical performance. Albizia woodchip substrates supplemented with cassava pulp exhibited the highest compressive strength, reaching 0.63 MPa at 5% strain. These findings demonstrate that substrate composition plays a key role in determining the microstructure and mechanical performance of mycelium composites, providing a viable pathway for transforming underutilized lignocellulosic waste into functional bio-based materials.
Alireza Javadian, X. Chan, N. Saeidi et al.· Scientific Reports· 0 citations
Wood vinegar (WV), also known as pyroligneous acid, is the aqueous condensate produced during lignocellulosic biomass pyrolysis, generated alongside biochar and non-condensable gases. In forest biorefineries, it represents a promising value-added coproduct capable of transforming forestry and agroforestry residues into a multifunctional bioproduct. Its composition, dominated by water, organic acids, phenolic compounds, aldehydes, and ketones, confers antimicrobial, antioxidant, biostimulant, herbicidal, and preservative properties. This review critically examines WV production, chemical composition, purification strategies, mechanisms of action, and applications, explicitly distinguishing evidence-based uses from prospective ones. Current evidence supports applications in agriculture, wood preservation, environmental management, and forestry, including forest nursery production and clonal propagation of Eucalyptus and Pinus. However, the literature remains fragmented by compositional variability, non-standardized terminology, limited mechanistic understanding, and scarce long-term toxicological and techno-economic assessments. WV holds significant potential for sustainable biomass valorization and circular bioeconomy strategies. Realizing this potential requires harmonized analytical protocols, standardized formulations, rigorous mechanistic studies, life-cycle assessments, and regulatory frameworks that support the transition of this heterogeneous pyrolysis byproduct into a reliable commodity within integrated forest biorefineries.
E. Lengowski, Paulo Júnior, Allison Arruda et al.· Resources· 0 citations
Agriculture plays a vital role in Pakistan’s economy; however, increasing population growth and rapid urbanization have created major challenges related to food security, sustainable waste management, and agricultural productivity. Mushroom cultivation, particularly Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus pulmonarius), offers a sustainable approach to address these issues due to its nutritional value, economic importance, and ability to grow on lignocellulosic agricultural wastes. Agricultural by-products such as wheat straw, cotton compost, spent coffee grounds, and pomegranate peels contain nutrients and fiber components that may support mushroom growth and improve substrate quality. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different substrate combinations on the growth and yield performance of Pleurotus pulmonarius under controlled conditions. Different treatments consisting of wheat straw, cotton compost, spent coffee grounds, and pomegranate peels were prepared and assessed using growth and yield parameters, including mycelial colonization, pinhead formation, fruiting body development, and mushroom yield. The study hypothesized that supplementation of conventional substrates with nutrient-rich agricultural wastes could enhance mushroom production efficiency. The results indicated variations among substrate treatments in terms of growth and production performance. Substrates supplemented with pomegranate peels and spent coffee grounds showed comparatively improved mushroom growth and yield characteristics compared to other treatments. These findings suggest that agricultural waste-based substrate combinations may enhance the cultivation efficiency of Pleurotus pulmonarius while also contributing to sustainable recycling of agro-industrial residues.
Keywords: Food security, urbanization, oyster mushroom, pomegranate and coffee grounds.
M. Akhtar, Nasir Ahmad Khan· Phytopathogenomics and Disea...· 0 citations
With the increasing global focus on climate change and the depletion of fossil fuels, bioethanol production has emerged as a promising alternative to traditional petroleum fuels. This study compares eight locally available lignocellulosic feedstocks including sugarcane bagasse, rice husk, maize husk, apple pomace, cassava peel, banana stem, jackfruit peel and cotton fibres, for bioethanol production using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The experimental work investigates the impact of pre-treatment with Ca(OH)2 for mitigating the inhibitory effects of furfural, which is a by-product of dilute acid hydrolysis pre-treatment. All the lignocellulosic feedstocks were evaluated for their ethanol yields, furfural content, and glucose utilisation under laboratory scale batch fermentation conditions. Among the feedstock sources, the maximum amount of ethanol was produced from rice husk (11.50 g/L), maize husk (11.54 g/L), and sugarcane bagasse (12.63 g/L). Apparent ethanol productivity values ranged between 0.282 g/L/day to 0.902 g/L/day with sugarcane bagasse showing highest productivity and furfural concentration was drastically reduced by 80.4%. This study was extended to 14 days to observe comparative insights on the suitability of the lignocellulosic feedstocks from agricultural waste residues, inhibitor reduction and laboratory scale process feasibility. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) qualitatively confirmed the presence of ethanol associated functional groups in all the distilled samples. The production of bioethanol in this study suggested predominantly non-growth associated product based on mathematical modelling.
P. Rao, Prathibha Narayanan, H. Ashoka et al.· Genetics and Molecular Resea...· 0 citations
Abstract
The escalating global energy demand and environmental concerns associated with fossil fuels have intensified the search for sustainable alternatives. Agro solid waste offers a large volume of lignocellulosic material, a sustainable, underutilized resource material to develop a wide portfolio of renewable energy products. However, their complex lignocellulosic structure often limits microbial accessibility during standard anaerobic digestion processes. This study evaluates the biomethane production potentials of the selected lignocellulosic agricultural biomasses, utilizing the specialized cellulolytic microorganisms found in the termite gut to act as a natural bioreactor for efficient biomass degradation. Three in-situ termireactors were fabricated using polycarbonate material (plexiglass) and inserted into existing active termites’ colony to mimic its natural habitat. Sugarcane bagasse, maize cob, and coconut husks were the selected cellulose sources and characterization was carried out in accordance with ASTM D 5142-04. The termites in their termitaries were fed selected feedstocks and the emitted gas were obtained. Temperature fluctuations ranged between 27.17°C and 31.19°C, with peaks corresponding to active microbial phases such as acidogenesis and methanogenesis. Feed consumption increased steadily for all substrates, with sugarcane bagasse showing the highest consumption of 0.63 kg on day 13 and 0.83kg on day 30 due to its favorable lignocellulosic structure. Daily and cumulative biogas production followed an upward trajectory with retention time, emphasizing the impact of feedstock composition. Sugarcane bagasse emerged as the most efficient substrate, having yielded 66.3% methane against 61.24 and 57.81% from coconut husks and maize cobs respectively.
I. E. Bassey, J. Babatola, O. M. Ojo et al.· FUTA JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING...· 0 citations