Abstract:The objective of this study was to understand the influence of precipitation and land use change on water and sediment yield in Luoyugou watershed in the loess hilly gully region, which based on the annual precipitation data, runoff and sediment yield data and land use change data collected from 1986 to 2010. The results indicated that during 1986 to 2010, the annual precipitation and precipitation of flood season were basically stable, and there was no obvious increase or decrease trend, while the annual runoff and annual sediment discharge in Luoyugou watershed were fluctuating and decreasing during this period. The precipitation and runoff correlation analysis showed that the runoff and sediment yield in the flood season had the greatest significant influence on the annual runoff and annual sediment discharge in the watershed. Through analyzing the change of water and sediment in different periods, we found that the change of land use mode, mainly the change of soil and water conservation measures such as terraced fields and forest grass, had limited effect on water reduction and sediment reduction in the watershed. The increase in the area of terraced fields and forest grass did not significantly change the relationship of water and sediment in the watershed, and the engineering measures such as silt dams played important role in reducing the water and sediment in the hilly and gully region of the Loess Plateau. The results could provide some theoretical basis for soil erosion management and dispose of soil and water conservation measures in loess hilly and gully region.