The ecological and environmental effect of water saving rice cultivation (WSRC) on paddy fields was reviewed, mainly by analyzing the effects on ecological conditions of paddy soil, greenhouse gas production and releasing, contamination and eutrophication of water bodies due to fertilizer losses, the balance of mineral nutrition and fertilizer by water interactions, and occurrence and control of diseases, pests and weeds under the condition of WSRC. The main issues were suggested for further research of WSRC in the paper, including studies on integrated effects of WSRC on plant soil ecosystems, on the high efficient irrigation approaches, on fertilizer by water interaction, on the occurrence and controlling of diseases, pests and weeds, on soil salinization and its alleviation and on the techniques of non prollution film mulched dry cultivation to the environment.