This paper assesses the potential economic impacts of balanced nutrient management systems technology options: BNMS-manure, which combines inorganic fertilizer and organic manure, and BNMS-rotation, which is maize–soybean rotation, in maize-based systems in the northern Guinea savanna areas of Nigeria, Ghana, Togo and Benin. The economic surplus analysis suggested that BNMS-manure research and extension could achieve returns ranging from 17 to 25% and a maximum adoption of 24 to 48%, for the conservative and base scenario respectively; and that BNMS-rotation research and extension could achieve returns ranging from 35 to 43% and a maximum adoption of 20 to 40%, for the conservative and base scenario respectively. Our results were consistent with earlier economic analyses which showed that BNMS-rotation was more productive, profitable and acceptable to farmers than BNMS-manure. It may be difficult to achieve large-scale adoption of BNMS-manure because the increases in yields are smaller and markets for manure are missing.