Abstract
Abstract Although agroforestry is known to enhance soil fertility, the interactive effects of land use type and slope remain poorly understood. This study assesses the combined influence of homegarden, parkland, and monocropping systems across slope gradients on soil fertility in Misrak Fonko, central Ethiopia, to support sustainable smallholder land management. Soil samples were collected using a factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) from three land use types (homegarden, parkland, and monocropping) across three slope gradients: upper (> 30%), middle (15–30%), and lower (3–15%). A total of 27 composite samples were obtained from the 0 to 20 cm soil depth with three replications for each land use and slope combination. The results indicated that soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (Av. P), soil organic carbon (SOC), and percent base saturation (PBS) differed significantly (p 30%). Soil pH increased from 5.17 (> 30%) to 6.04 (15–30%) and 6.64 (3–15%). Similarly, Av. P increased from 18.9 to 41.2 and 45.5 mg kg−1, TN from 0.11 to 0.14% and 0.15%, SOC from 1.61 to 2.02% and 2.5% across the upper, middle, and lower slopes, respectively. Homegardens and parklands exhibited higher soil fertility than monocropping, while soil nutrients increased from upper to lower slopes. The findings highlight that integrating agroforestry with slope-specific management can improve soil fertility and support sustainable smallholder agriculture.