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Ducks Eat Weeds, But Pests Rise in Rice Paddies
19 Oct
Summary
- Ducks suppressed weeds but increased pest populations in rice paddies.
- Integrated rice-duck farming yielded 7.6 times more profit than conventional.
- Ancient rice-fish systems use less pesticide and fertilizer with similar yields.
In southern China's rice-growing regions, integrated farming systems like rice-duck and rice-fish co-cultivation offer alternatives to conventional agriculture. A 2022 trial in northern Zhejiang found that ducks effectively suppressed weeds in rice paddies, contributing to an organic rice-duck technology that yielded 7.6 times more profit than conventional methods. However, this system also saw an increase in planthoppers and leafhoppers, while beneficial predators like spiders and dragonflies declined, suggesting reduced effectiveness against major insect pests.
Conversely, rice-fish co-culture, with over 1,200 years of history in regions like Qingtian, Zhejiang, has proven sustainable. A 2011 study revealed that rice-fish paddies used 68 percent less pesticide and 24 percent less chemical fertilizer compared to monoculture rice, while maintaining similar yields and yield stability. These traditional systems efficiently produce both rice grain and aquatic protein, improving land use and water quality.
While ducks effectively manage weeds and rice-fish systems reduce chemical inputs, the success of these integrated approaches depends on the specific animal, pest, and management practices. The economic advantages, particularly for duck systems, are often tied to organic certification.
