Enhanced biomethane generation from the anaerobic digestion of wilted corn straw via control in mesophilic and thermophilic temperature intervals

•The interval temperature digester exhibited the highest methane yield.•The decomposition rate of organic matter increases with increasing temperature.•Methanogenesis, rather than hydrolysis, is limited at the thermophilic temperature because of the loss of Methanosarcina.•Efficient methanogenesis occurs under the balance between hydrolysis and methanogenesis at interval temperature.•Our findings may provide insight into the temperature control in AD systems.