3.5 PCA and correlation study
The PCA comprising two principal components (PC 1 and PC 2) accounted
for ~ 58% of the variation for the different fruit
quality parameters, soil loss, and runoff with different treatments. An
angle of 0 or 180° reflects a correlation of 1 or −1, respectively. The
interpretation of PCA results can be described by the positioning of the
different variables and superimposition of respective PCA plots for
respective treatments as shown in the biplot (Fig. 7). The
superimposition of individual plots for treatments on variables plot
showed that intercropping of sapota with cowpea + castor on bench
terrace and sapota alone on bench terrace represents a higher
correlation with soil moisture, organic matter, organic carbon,
available N, P, K, fruit weight, fruit moisture, vitamin C, tree growth,
and antioxidants. The position of a total of 16 parameters of sapota,
soil loss and runoff was influenced by various treatments. Similarly,
correlation among various variables such as different sapota quality
parameters, soil loss and runoff was presented in Fig. 8. All the
variables showed a positive and significant correlation with each other
except phenol, TSS (brix), TSS and runoff at p ≤ 0.05 (Fig. 8).