Soil and water conservation (SWC) interventions are needed to control rainfall-driven erosion, and profitability of SWC measures at the sub-catchment scale emerges as the principal reason for their adoption. This study carried out a cost–benefit analysis of SWC measures in mountainous agricultural catchments. Physical data were obtained through field measurements of discharge, sediment and nutrient loss at the sub-catchment scale with and without SWC measures. The major cost benefits of various measures implemented in the study area were quantified using net present value (NPV), and direct market prices were employed in valuing the cost of items required for crop production. The results revealed that sediment loss decreased by 8.78 Mg ha−1 y−1 (46.8%) due to SWC measures, and the cost of production inputs, such as fertilizer (urea) and lime, was reduced by $17.97 ha−1 y−1 and $3.63 ha−1 y−1, respectively. Furthermore, crop yield was enhanced by 13% for teff, 19.4% for sorghum and 19.42% for chickpeas, which is equivalent to economic returns of $102, $96.9 and $140.25 ha−1 y−1, respectively. The total discounted cost of SWC interventions was about $331.74. This includes establishment costs, maintenance costs, input costs and the costs resulting from lost productive land. In sum, the total discounted benefits of SWC measures were the enhancement of crop production, a reduction in lime requirement and a reduction in the loss of total nitrogen and sediment, estimated at about $809.42. Hence, it is possible to deduce that SWC measures reduced nutrient depletion and greatly improved crop yield with a NPV of $477.68 ha−1. The results strongly suggest that SWC measures in the study sub-catchment, as well as in nearby areas with a similar indigenous SWC adoption strategy, topographic conditions and agroclimatic characteristics, should be maintained.

中文翻译：

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埃塞俄比亚北部高地子流域尺度水土保持措施的经济效益

需要采取水土保持 (SWC) 干预措施来控制降雨驱动的侵蚀，而子流域尺度的 SWC 措施的盈利能力成为采用这些措施的主要原因。本研究对山区农业集水区的 SWC 措施进行了成本效益分析。物理数据是通过在有和没有 SWC 措施的情况下在子流域尺度上对排放、沉积物和养分损失的现场测量获得的。在研究区域实施的各种措施的主要成本收益使用净现值 (NPV) 进行量化，并采用直接市场价格来评估作物生产所需的项目成本。结果表明，由于 SWC 措施和生产投入成本，如化肥（尿素）和石灰，沉积物损失减少了 8.78 Mg ha−1 y−1 (46.8%)。分别减少了 $17.97 ha-1 y-1 和 $3.63 ha-1 y-1。此外，画眉草的作物产量提高了 13%，高粱提高了 19.4%，鹰嘴豆提高了 19.42%，这分别相当于 102 美元、96.9 美元和 140.25 美元 ha−1 y−1 的经济回报。SWC 干预的总折扣成本约为 331.74 美元。这包括建立成本、维护成本、投入成本和因失去生产性土地而产生的成本。总之，SWC 措施的总折扣收益是提高作物产量、减少石灰需求以及减少总氮和沉积物的损失，估计约为 809.42 美元。因此，可以推断 SWC 措施减少了养分消耗并大大提高了作物产量，NPV 为 $477.68 ha-1。