Analysis of ‘RICE’ benefits on rice–tortoise ( Chincmys reevesii ) co‐culture system

Abstract

Advantages of the rice–fish co-culture system had gained increasing attention to resolve escalating global food security demand. However, many benefits in the rice–tortoise co-culture system had rarely been investigated. In this study, we firstly proposed ‘RICE’ benefits, which came from the initial abbreviation of the four words including reduce, increase, co-existence and ecology to illustrate the advantages of the rice–tortoise co-culture system. We constructed three groups including the tortoise monoculture group (TM), the rice monoculture group (RM) and the rice–tortoise co-culture group (RT) to investigate this system. The 84 juvenile tortoises with the weight of 36.0 ± 2.0 g were conducted for 9 blue plastic round tanks during the 74 days of the tortoises and rice co-culture stage. The results showed that the system could remarkably save hectare farmland acreages, irrigation water resources, reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides, and relieve eutrophication pollution from excess nitrogen and phosphorus. Compared with the rice monoculture group, the grain yields, grain rate, 1000-grain weights and net incomes in the rice–tortoise co-culture group were evidently increased The results of the tortoise growth performance parameters in the rice–tortoise co-culture group were significantly greater than those in the tortoise monoculture group Particularly, the products amino acid quality of rice and tortoises were remarkably improved in the rice–tortoise co-culture system. Importantly, the quality of water and soil environments got better and better. As a result, the role of ‘win–win’ between rice and tortoises indicated that they were mutually beneficial. Interestingly, leisure and sightseeing tourism for the rice–tortoise co-culture system had been widely welcomed. This study concluded that the efforts to unlock the co-culture system potential for both rice and tortoises would significantly increase agricultural productivity, food security and even could contribute to the potential, healthy, ecological and sustainable agriculture.