Woody species diversity, soil macrofauna abundance, and soil organic carbon stock potentials of homegarden agroforestry practice in Habru district, North Wollo, Ethiopia

Abstract Agroforestry, which integrates trees into farming systems, enhances resource use efficiency and contributes to climate change mitigation. While woody species diversity has been studied in Southern Ethiopia, data from Northern regions, particularly the Habru district, remain limited, especially concerning soil macrofauna. This study assessed woody species diversity, soil macrofauna abundance, and soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in homegarden agroforestry systems across midland and lowland agroecologies. Four peasant associations were purposively selected, and 34 homegardens (18 midland, 16 lowland) were randomly sampled. Soil samples were collected from 0–15 cm to 15–30 cm depths at five points within each 10 m × 10 m plot. Soil macrofauna were sampled using 25 cm × 25 cm quadrats to a depth of 30 cm. A total of 26 woody species from 18 families were recorded. Woody species diversity was significantly higher ( p < 0.05) in the lowland agro-ecology, while soil macrofauna diversity and SOC stocks were higher in the midlands. SOC was measured at 60.19 ± 2.18 Mg C ha⁻ 1 in midlands and 57.39 ± 2.61 Mg C ha⁻ 1 in lowlands. Soil macrofauna showed a positive and significant correlation ( p < 0.05) with SOC. These findings highlight the role of homegarden agroforestry systems in enhancing biodiversity and carbon storage, underscoring their potential as a sustainable land use strategy for climate change mitigation, soil health improvement, and livelihood resilience in Northern Ethiopia.