Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #425022
Research Project: Broadening and Strengthening the Genetic Base of Rice for Adaptation to a Changing Climate, Crop Production Systems, and Markets

Location: Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center

Title: Primary investigation of rice-fish co-culture: Investigating the feasibility of raising fish in flooded rice paddies in the Southern USA

Author
item Jia, Yulin
item Jackson, Aaron
item Green, Bartholomew
item Fuller, Sidney
item Dunlap, Heather
item Sells, Laduska
item Ray, Candis
item Harper, Paxton
item Smith, Brennan

Submitted to: PLOS ONE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/18/2025
Publication Date: 7/10/2025
Citation: Jia, Y., Jackson, A.K., Green, B.W., Fuller, S.A., Dunlap, H.N., Sells, L.J., Ray, C.L., Harper, P.C., Smith, B. 2025. Primary investigation of rice-fish co-culture: Investigating the feasibility of raising fish in flooded rice paddies in the Southern USA. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327572.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327572

Interpretive Summary: Rice-fish co-culture offers a dual benefit by producing both rice and fish while reducing chemical inputs. Fish consume pests, weeds, and insects, reducing reliance on pesticides and herbicides, while their foraging activity and waste serves as organic fertilizer, enhancing soil quality and nutrient cycling. We conducted two studies in Stuttgart Arkansas, USA from 2023-2024 to investigate the suitability of raising Koi carp in flooded rice paddies with a sushi rice variety, Eclipse. We showed that co-cultivation of rice and fish enhanced milling yield, protein content, and yield for rice while providing an economic gain on fish production of 312.7% the first year and 12.4% the second year when larger fish were tested. Together we showed that the rice-fish system had doubled rice yields, improved milling quality, lowered input costs, and increased revenue by $10,000 per hectare. This study suggests that rice-fish co-culture can be an excellent production system for rice farmers in the USA.

Technical Abstract: Rice-fish co-culture offers a dual benefit by producing both rice and fish while reducing chemical inputs. Fish consume pests, weeds, and insects, reducing reliance on pesticides and herbicides, while their foraging activity and waste serves as organic fertilizer, enhancing soil quality and nutrient cycling. Two studies were conducted in Stuttgart Arkansas, USA from 2023-2024 to investigate the suitability of raising Koi carp in flooded rice paddies with a sushi rice variety, Eclipse. Various traits and parameters were assessed to evaluate the performance of the co-culture system including water quality, fish growth, soil and water temperature, rice panicle characteristics, rice yield, and protein content. Co-cultivation of rice and fish enhanced milling yield, protein content, and yield for rice while providing an economic gain on fish production of 312.7% the first year and 12.4% the second year when larger fish were tested. Together we showed that the rice-fish system had doubled rice yields, improved milling quality, lowered input costs, and increased revenue by $10,000 per hectare.