Straw Burning Dilemma in Modern Agriculture: A Systematic Review of Driving Factors, Environmental Impacts, and Sustainable Solutions

Straw burning has emerged as a persistent and multifaceted challenge within global agricultural systems, particularly across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. This review reframes straw burning not as an isolated behavioral issue, but as the outcome of interlinked structural, technological, and socio-cultural constraints embedded in modern agricultural transitions. Drawing on a synthesis of recent empirical studies, we identify four conceptual turning points that reshape the understanding of straw burning: the structural consequences of mechanization, the trade-offs between high- and low-tech solutions, the cultural legitimacy of burning practices, and the need for systems-based, climate-aligned management paradigms. The analysis reveals that interventions focusing solely on technical innovation often overlook the deeper institutional and cultural factors that sustain burning as a rational choice under constrained conditions. We advocate for hybrid, place-based strategies that combine accessible agronomic practices with long-term investments in infrastructure, policy alignment, and community engagement. Moving beyond fragmented solutions and adopting an integrated systems lens enables this study to contribute a forward-looking framework for sustainable straw management that is environmentally just, socially legitimate, and economically viable.