Abstract:Runoff and sediment yield process on sand-covered loess slopes under simulated runoff conditions were studied through simulating wind-water complex erosion based on the controlled scouring experiments. This study set up three water flow rates (5, 10, and 15 L/min) and five sand-covered thicknesses (0, 5, 15, 25 and 35 mm).The results showed that the runoff yield time on the sand-covered slope was extended, and it extended with the increasing of sand-covered thickness. Under different water flow rate, the runoff yield time on sand-covered slopes (5, 15, 25, 35 mm) were 1.29~1.46 times, 1.66~2.5 times, 2.5~3.76 times and 3.76~4.72 times, respectively, than those on the loss slope. Compared to the loess slope, sediment yield contribution rate was greater than runoff contribution rate on the sand-covered slope. Under the same water flow rate, the total amount of runoff on sand-covered slope was 1.05~1.8 times of that on the loess slope, and the total amount of sediment yield was 1.6~7.5 times. Under different water flow rates, the increase-rate of runoff rate on the sand-covered slope was significantly higher than that on the loess slope within 0~5 min, and in the later 25 min of runoff, increase-rates of runoff rate on both two kinds of slopes were basically coincident. In the whole runoff, the fluctuation of runoff rate on sand-covered slope was significantly higher than that on loess slope. With the increasing of water flow rate, the initial sediment yield strength on sand-covered slope significantly increased. However, in the same water flow rate, the initial sediment yield strength did not increased significantly with the increasing of sand-covered thickness. Under different water flow rates and different sand-covered thicknesses, the sediment yield strength firstly increased dramatically, then decreased, and then gradually reached a steady state, and the fluctuation of sediment yield strength on the sand-covered slope was significantly higher than that on the loess slope. The results indicated that the sand-covered slope destroyed the stability of the water flow, and aggravated soil erosion at a certain extent.