How can terracing impact on soil moisture variation in China? A meta-analysis

•The response of soil moisture variation to terracing is strongly influenced by land use, climate, topography and terracing characteristics.•Relative to other terrace structures, level ditches presented the greatest water conservation benefits, especially for steep slopes.•Terracing had higher water storage benefits in the northern plains and the southern dry-hot valleys.•The benefit of water storage by terracing enhanced with the increasing slope gradient above 15° and decreased with increasing soil depth.