Vegetation is an important factor affecting slope soil erosion process,thus exploring the response of slope sediment yield and sediment connectivity to vegetation spatial distribution is of great significance to reveal the mechanism of soil erosion process and predict slope erosion.In this study,based on the indoor scouring experiment,the sediment reduction efficiency of three common slope vegetation distributions (upper slope,middle slope,lower slope) under different flow discharge (3.2 and 5.2 L/min) and vegetation cover (0,30%,50% and 70%) were analyzed.And a sediment connectivity index (the index of potential sediment yield) was used to explore the characteristics of sediment connectivity influenced by vegetation.The results showed that:(1) The sediment reduction efficiency of vegetation distribution varied with the coverage.According to the average and variable amplitude of sediment reduction efficiency,the effect of vegetation distribution on the lower slope was best compared with other vegetation distribution.However,its gap in different vegetation distribution was reduced with the increase of the flow discharge.(2) The effects of flow discharge on sediment yields were slightly greater than that of vegetation when the vegetation cover was smaller (≤30%).But the role of vegetation enhanced gradually and became the dominant influencing factor with the increase of vegetation cover.(3) The index of potential sediment yield was significantly different under varied vegetation cover and distribution.As the vegetation cover increased,the index decreased and the sediment connectivity weakened.And the index of vegetation distribution on the lower slope was smallest and its sediment connectivity was worst compared with that on the upper or middle slope.In addition,there was significant positive correlation between the index of potential sediment yield and sediment yields,that is,the greater potential of sediment yield meant the stronger sediment connectivity and thus the greater sediment yields.The results can provide scientific basis for the exploration of soil erosion mechanism and ecological benefits of vegetation,and further provide reference for ecological construction in the Loess Plateau.