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.