Abstract: The rice-duck farming system is one of the most important components of Chinese agriculture culture, with a long history and obvious advantages in rice production. After more than one thousand of years of development, the rice-duck farming has been transformed from scatter-feeding, mobile-grazing and camp-feeding to the modern technology system, with good social, ecological and economic benefits. Here, we introduced the concept, developing history, and the major patterns of rice-duck farming system. We summarized the research advances on rice-duck farming regarding economic benefits, rice yield, growth characteristics, farmland ecological environment, water ecological environment, biodiversity, and greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, we discussed the prospects of rice-duck system in terms of regionality, practicability, systematicness, long-term effects, and brand building. This review might provide support for enhancing yield potential, quality, and sustainability of rice-duck system.

Key words: rice, duck, development process, planting and raising model.