title: Mechanism and capacities of reducing ecological cost through rice-duck cultivation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rice-duck cultivation is the essence of Chinese traditional agriculture. A scientific assessment of the mechanism and its capacity is of theoretical significance and practical value in improving modern agricultural technology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The duck's secretions, excreta and their treading, pecking and predation decrease the occurrence of plant diseases, pests and weeds, enrich species diversity and improve the field environment. The rice-duck intergrowth system effectively prevents rice planthoppers and rice leafhoppers. The control effects can be up to 98.47% and 100% respectively; it also has effects on the control of Chilo suppressalis, Tryporyza incertulas and the rice leafrollers. Notable control results are found on sheath blight, while the effects on other diseases are about 50%. Harm from weeds is placed under primary control; prevention of weeds is sequenced by broadleaf weeds > sedge weeds > Gramineae weeds. Contents of soil organic matter, N, P and K are improved by the system; nutrient utilization is accelerated, resulting in decreased fertilizer application. Greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by 1-2% and duck fodder is saved in this system. There is also an obvious economic benefit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to conventional rice cultivation, rice-duck cultivation shows great benefits to ecologic cost and economic income.
authors.affiliation: College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China.
authors.forename: Pan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Huang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xiaolan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Zhiqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Huabin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Aiwu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Can
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D057191:Capacity Building / Q000191:economics; D002681:China; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000191:economics / Q000254:growth & development*; D004372:Ducks / Q000254:growth & development*; D017753:Ecosystem; D017752:Greenhouse Effect / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D058871:Organic Agriculture / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D012275:Oryza / Q000191:economics / Q000254:growth & development*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000191:economics; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control; D011202:Poultry Products / Q000191:economics; D013559:Symbiosis; D058728:Weed Control / Q000191:economics
keywords: ecological cost; economic benefit; reduce; rice-duck cultivation