Abstract: Based on the data of daily precipitation and single-crop rice yield at 52 meteorological stations in Jiangsu province during 1961 to 2012,the precipitation distribution indices during growing periods from May to October were calculated,and the possible relationship between spatio-temporal variability of precipitation distribution pattern and rice yield was explored. The results showed that,the precipitation distribution during growing periods of single-crop rice in Jiangsu had strong ununiformity,precipitation was mainly concentrated in the daily rainfall events with amount above 50 mm and July of summer,and the precipitation concentration in north Jiangsu was higher than that of south Jiangsu. The precipitation distribution during growing periods of single-crop rice in Jiangsu was intensifying in recent 50 years,and contribution of the rainfall events with amount above 50 mm and the precipitation of August in south Jiangsu had significant increasing trends. There was a certain correlation between precipitation distribution pattern and single-crop rice yield,the higher precipitation concentration would bring the less yield. Among the precipitation distribution indices,the negative impacts of the contribution of rainfall events with amount above 50 mm to yield were more obvious,and single-crop rice yield in south Jiangsu was more sensitive to the variability of the precipitation indicator.

Key words: single-crop rice, precipitation distribution indices, Jiangsu province