Abstract:For further optimization and rational allocation of soil and water conservation measures, three small watersheds under different land use patterns in loess hilly and gully region was taken as an example. According to the sedimentation profile sampling, siltation layer identification and corresponding relationship with erosive rainfall events, the capacity curve of the check-dams was established combined with 1:10 000 early topographic map and Total Station measurement to estimate the sediment deposition, and then the sediment yield was determined based on the controlled watershed area and performance period. The results showed that:(1) The multi-year average sediment depositions in Dongergou, Yanqiao and Luqu dam-controlled small watersheds under different land use patterns from dam construction to 2016 in the Majiagou catchment of Yanhe River basin were 2 748.80, 4 634.31 and 3 141.17 t, respectively. (2) The multi-year average sediment yields of Dongergou, Yanqiao and Luqu watersheds were 2 432.56, 3 131.29 and 1 794.95 t/(km2·a), which were mild erosion, moderate erosion and mild erosion, respectively. The minimum rainfall of erosion and sediment yield in the dam-controlled small watershed under different land use patterns was greater than 20 mm. (3) Different land use patterns had significant effects on the erosion and sediment yield in small watersheds. The multi-year average sediment yield of Yanqiao watershed with obvious human activities was larger than that of Dongergou watershed with lots of forest and grassland, while the multi-year average sediment yield in Luqu watershed was the smallest with mainly forest and terraces. Thus, it could be concluded that the reasonable configuration of different water and soil conservation measures in loess hilly and gully region is an effective way to reduce erosion and sediment yield in small watersheds.