5. Conclusion
The present study unveils the effectiveness of Soil and Moisture Saving
Techniques (SMSTs) in reducing runoff and soil loss, thereby improving
soil properties and enhancing the growth, yield, and quality of sapota
fruits in degraded ravine conditions. The study strongly recommends the
implementation of terraces and trenches as essential measures to achieve
higher fruit yield and improved fruit quality in semi-arid degraded
ravine systems. The findings highlight the positive impact of SMSTs on
various fruit quality parameters, including fruit weight, size, sugar
content, moisture, vitamin C, and phenolic compounds. Furthermore, the
use of terraces and trenches demonstrates lower runoff compared to
slopes, although tillage practices on terraces resulted in significant
soil loss due to crop cultivation, necessitating further investigation
to develop appropriate crop cultivation techniques. The application of
SMSTs also showed significant effects on soil properties, such as EC,
soil moisture, SOC, available N2O,
P2O5, and K2O, with
terracing and trenches being the most effective measures for improving
these parameters. Hence, the cultivation of sapota on bench terraces or
in conjunction with staggered trenches on natural slopes emerges as
viable and sustainable approaches to enhance fruit productivity and
quality in degraded ravine areas of Western India. These practices not
only contribute to increased yields but also promote soil conservation
and sustainable land management in the region.