Abstract: By using ecological footprint model, the ecological footprints in Hubei Province from 1985 to 2004 were measured in temporal sequence. The results showed that from 1985 to 2004, the per capita demand of ecological footprint in Hubei Province surpassed the per capita ecological capacity. The comparison of different scale ecological deficits/surplus in the same periods of time indicated that on provincial and national scales, the ecological footprints in Hubei Province were not in a sustainable development status; but on global scale, they were in a sustainable one. Among all kinds of land types in Hubei Province, farmland had the highest ecological deficit per capita, while forestland was in surplus. Water area had the fastest increasing speed in the demand of per capita ecological footprint, while forestland had the fastest one in the demand of per capita ecological capacity. Overall, the per capita ecological footprint and per capita GDP in Hubei Province kept increasing, while the ecological footprint of ten thousand Yuan GDP presented a downward trend. To control the scale of construction, protect the farmland, and increase the input of new technologies would be the important measures to solve the problems in ecological footprints in this province.

Key words: Rice, Barnyardgrass, Water irrigation, Rice plant density, Interference