Agglomeration is a major problem in straw combustion in a fluidized bed. This paper presents the results of rice straw combustion experiments carried out under different operating conditions in a bubble-fluidized bed (BFB). The influences of bed material size and type, feeding mode, temperature, and fluidization number on agglomeration were discussed, and the mode of alkali accumulation in the bed was analyzed. The results indicated that low bed temperature, short fuel in-bed residence time, high fluidization number, and small bed material particles are conducive to agglomeration prevention. Successful extended combustion in a small BFB and in a bench-scale circulating fluidized bed was carried out without agglomeration under selected parameters. This work suggests the possibility for combusting high-alkali straw using fluidization technology. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.