<p>The abundant availability of straw resources presents significant opportunities for advancing research on their clean production and circular application. This study systematically analyzes research trends on rice straw utilization using the Web of Science (WOS) database as the primary data source and CiteSpace as a bibliometric tool. By examining key parameters such as publication trends, influential authors, leading research institutions, country collaborations, and high-frequency keywords, this study constructs a knowledge map to provide a structured understanding of straw-related research. The research results indicate that studies on straw in clean production have been steadily increasing, with an average annual publication growth rate of 8.6% over the past decade. China, India, and the USA are the top three contributing countries, collectively accounting for 76.7% of global publications. Leading institutions such as Chinese Academy of Sciences and Egyptian Knowledge Bank Ekb have played a pivotal role in driving research advancements. Keyword analysis identifies dominant themes such as “rice straw” (86 occurrences), “wheat straw” (58 occurrences), and “biomass” (52 occurrences), while emerging research frontiers like biogas production and biochar application highlight evolving priorities in clean production. Beyond bibliometric insights, this study underscores the critical role of straw utilization in mitigating environmental impact, enhancing resource efficiency, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Compared to existing literature, this research differentiates itself by integrating a visualized bibliometric analysis with an emphasis on emerging research directions, offering a more comprehensive and data-driven understanding of the field. The findings provide valuable guidance for policymakers, researchers, and industry practitioners, facilitating innovation in clean production strategies.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>