Abstract: ObjectiveThe present study researched temporal and spatial variation of rice planting climate suitability in Qingshuijiang River basin,Guizhou province,a karst area,in a bid to provided some references for rational planning and distribution of rice planting area and the sustainable development in Qingshui River basin.MethodBased on daily sunshine duration,precipitation,temperature,and rice phenological and meteorological data observed at 16 meteorological stations in Qingshui River basin from 2000 to 2014,models of climatic factors and comprehensive climate suitability were established.The variation of climate suitability in the whole growth stage and each growth stage was evaluated.Interpretation and spatial analysis of rice planting region were conducted by ENVI 4.8 and ArcGIS 10.0 software.ResultRice planting climate temperature suitability,precipitation suitability and comprehensive suitability were high in Qingshuijiang River basin,and temperature suitability >precipitation suitability.Except for jointing-booting stage and grouting stage,sunshine suitability at other stages was low.At rice seedling stage,precipitation suitability>temperature suitability>sunshine suitability;at tillering stage and jointing-booting stage,temperature suitability>precipitation suitability>sunshine suitability;at earring and flowering stage,and grouting stage,temperature suitability>sunshine suitability>precipitation suitability.The areas suitable for rice planting were distributed at where elevation was less than 800 m and slope was less than 25°.ConclusionThe climate in Qingshuijiang River basin can match the need of whole rice growth stage and each growth stage.But sunshine duration is short,which can be destructive factor for growth rice.The optimal rice planting areas are mainly distributed in dam area,sunny slopes,and semi-sunny slopes in southeast and northwest of Qingshuijiang River basin.