<p>Enset-based farming systems are promoted as a sustainable land management strategy in Ethiopia, yet comprehensive evidence of their contribution to soil fertility remains limited. This study assessed the role of three Enset-based farming systems (Enset-dominated, Enset-coffee, and Enset-coffee-fruit based farming) in improving soil fertility compared to adjacent croplands in central Ethiopia. A total of 60 composite soil samples were collected from 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm soil depths across 30 paired plots. Standard laboratory methods were used to analyze soil physicochemical properties, and soil organic carbon stocks were calculated. Statistical analyses included one-way ANOVA, Fisher’s LSD post-hoc test, and paired t-tests. Results showed that Enset-based systems had significantly higher (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) soil organic matter, total nitrogen, and exchangeable bases (Ca²⁺, K⁺, and Mg²⁺) compared to adjacent croplands at both soil depths. Enset-based systems have significantly higher cation exchange capacity and base saturation at 0–20&#xa0;cm depth compared to adjacent croplands. Most notably, soil organic carbon stocks in Enset with coffee (137.8 ± 27.3 Mg ha⁻¹) and Enset with coffee-fruit (127.3 ± 19.2 Mg ha⁻¹) systems were significantly higher (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) than in adjacent croplands (93.5 ± 15.8 and 92.3 ± 16.5 Mg ha⁻¹, respectively). However, soil organic carbon stocks in Enset-dominated systems did not vary significantly from those in croplands. We conclude that integrated Enset-based farming systems, particularly those incorporating perennial crops, substantially enhance soil fertility and carbon sequestration. These findings support policy integration of Enset-based farming systems as climate-smart agricultural practices for sustainable land management in the Ethiopian highlands.</p>