The purpose of this study was to explore how soil fertility management and farm nutrient balances varied across socio-economic groups in northern Ethiopia. Field surveys were carried out in 32 farms in Tigray, northern Ethiopia using different socio-economic groups, viz.: model/non model and female/male farmers. The nutrient input flows and output flows were monitored and analysed using Monitoring for Quality Improvement (MonQI) toolbox. Results of the study showed that average nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) balances in the highlands were − 30.8, 4.08 and − 42.75 kg ha−1, respectively while in the lowland the average nutrient balance were − 19.5, 2.09 and − 15.35 kg ha−1 for N, P and K, respectively. All farms had negative N and K nutrient balances, with lower negative N and K balance recorded in highlands than the lowlands. The reported values account about 0.6% and 2.7% of the total soil N and K pools in the highland and 0.3% and 0.8% in the lowland, respectively. Nutrient depletion rates in the highlands were 0.6% year−1 and 2.7% year−1 for N and K, respectively while for the lowlands the rates were 1.5% year−1 and 3.4% year−1 for N and K, respectively. Depletion rates were higher in the lowlands than highlands due to monocropping, crop residue removal and absence of soil water conservation. Most farms belonging to model farmers of both categories and non-model male farmers show more negative nutrient balance. We conclude that socio-economic status and being model farmers had less role in soil fertility maintenance. However, the more positive balance in female-headed households points to the need for adequate attention and support for the female-headed households. This study underscores the need for sustainable nutrient management. More so, agricultural policy should target female-headed households to help reduce the productivity gap between male-headed households and female-headed households.

中文翻译：

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埃塞俄比亚北部提格雷农业系统的营养平衡

本研究的目的是探讨埃塞俄比亚北部不同社会经济群体的土壤肥力管理和农场养分平衡如何变化。实地调查在埃塞俄比亚北部提格雷的 32 个农场使用不同的社会经济群体进行，即：模范/非模范和女性/男性农民。使用质量改进监测 (MonQI) 工具箱监测和分析养分输入流和输出流。研究结果表明，高地的平均氮 (N)、磷 (P) 和钾 (K) 平衡分别为 − 30.8、4.08 和 − 42.75 kg ha−1，而在低地，平均养分平衡为 − 19.5 , 2.09 和 − 15.35 kg ha−1 分别为 N、P 和 K。所有农场都有负氮和钾营养平衡，高地记录的负氮和钾平衡低于低地。报告值分别占高地土壤氮和钾总库的 0.6% 和 2.7%，低地分别为 0.3% 和 0.8%。高地的 N 和 K 的养分消耗率分别为 0.6% year-1 和 2.7% year-1，而低地的 N 和 K 的比率分别为 1.5% year-1 和 3.4% year-1。由于单一作物种植、作物残留清除和缺乏土壤水分保持，低地的耗竭率高于高地。大多数属于两类模范农民和非模范男性农民的农场表现出更多的负营养平衡。我们得出结论，社会经济地位和模范农民在保持土壤肥力方面的作用较小。然而，女户主家庭中更为积极的平衡表明需要对女户主家庭给予足够的关注和支持。这项研究强调了可持续养分管理的必要性。更重要的是，农业政策应针对女户主家庭，以帮助缩小男户主家庭和女户主家庭之间的生产力差距。