The distribution of soil organic carbon and nitrogen across different soil depths in relation to household wealth in enset‐based farming systems in Central Ethiopia

Abstract Soils serve as a major reservoir for atmospheric carbon and could play a key role in mitigating climate change. Since deep soil layers can store substantial amounts of organic carbon, they should be included in carbon and nitrogen estimates. This study examined soil organic carbon and nitrogen at different depths under enset‐based farming systems in Ethiopia and determined the association with household wealth. We compared organic carbon and total nitrogen in two locations in Ethiopia, Haise and Yeferezye, on enset farms that have been established for over 30 years. The results showed that organic carbon varied significantly with management practices of different wealth categories. At Haise, organic carbon in 0–15 cm layer was 4.9% under resource‐rich farmers, significantly higher than 3.5% under resource‐poor farmers. At Yeferezye, organic carbon under resource‐rich management (4.4%) was higher than in soils managed by both medium‐wealth and resource‐poor farmers. In the upper layers (0–30 cm) of enset fields, organic carbon stocks were 15.3% higher at Haise and 4.6% higher at Yeferezye under resource‐rich management, reflecting differences in the quantity of organic inputs applied. Our work suggests that enset systems store substantial amounts of organic carbon and nitrogen below the main rooting depth (40 cm), with household wealth influencing these concentrations through differences in manure availability. However, this conclusion is based solely on internal comparisons within enset systems, without reference to other land uses. To quantify threats and opportunities associated with enset farming, further studies are needed to understand how land use change away from enset would impact stored carbon and nitrogen.