Stubble burning: What determines this fire?

Despite the recognized impact of agricultural fires on air pollution and public health globally, with significant consequences observed in regions such as China, India, and Turkiye, there remains a critical gap in understanding their underlying causes. This study aims to identify the key factors influencing agricultural fires in Turkiye between 2012 and 2021. This research conducts a thorough district-level evaluation using extensive micro-level data, remote sensing datasets, and robust methodologies, including fixed effects and spatial panel data methods. The study finds that variables such as the cultivation of second-crop corn and regional conflicts positively correlate with fire occurrences. In contrast, factors like cotton cultivation, livestock presence, and forested areas are inversely related to fire incidents. These findings underscore the complicated relationship between agricultural practices, environmental factors, and socio-economic conditions influencing fire occurrences. The study's outcomes offer significant policy implications, highlighting the necessity for customized strategies to curb agricultural fires. These strategies encompass promoting alternative crop patterns, tackling socio-economic determinants, and accommodating regional specificities.