Partial nutrient balances were calculated at the field and farm levels and rice production has been correlated with socioeconomic data. As such, access to capital appears to be an important factor determining biophysical sustainability. As long as the socioeconomic situation does not permit an increase in off-farm income, solutions have to be sought on farm. Both short-distance biophysical variations and constraints in financial and labour resources are influencing farmers' decisions, leading to variability in management over short distances, and the coexistence of sustainably and unsustainably managed land, among and within farms. A real risk is that short-distance variability becomes hidden if data upscaling is not done correctly.
More action is necessary to acquaint farmers and extension workers with nutrient budget practices.
Participatory activities should help to provide extension workers and farmers with simple tools based on nutrient budgets that are socially and culturally acceptable, and educationally appropriate for these target groups. Improvements in methods of data collection and nutrient budget calculation and interpretation will assist farmers to improve fertility management, and policy-makers and the fertilizer sector to support improved management.