Objective This study aims to analyze the trends and causes of runoff and sediment changes and to explore the relationship curves between runoff and sediment changes, thereby providing support for understanding the mechanisms of runoff and sediment changes and promoting the high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin. Methods Based on the data of monthly runoff and sediment discharge from 1956 to 2023, the M-K test, Budyko equation, and cumulative slope change rate comparison method were used to analyze the trends of annual sediment discharge and annual runoff, identify abrupt change years, construct the runoff-sediment relationship curves, and quantify the causes of runoff and sediment changes. Results (1) The annual runoff and sediment discharge from 1956 to 2023 in the Taohe River Basin showed a significant declining trend. Among them, the Hongqi hydrological station had the largest decline rate of the annual runoff and sediment discharge, which were -2.48×107 m3/a and -4.668×105 t/a, respectively. The Minxian hydrological station had the smallest decline rates of annual runoff and sediment discharge, which were -1.91×107 m3/a and -3.38×104 t/a, respectively. (2) The annual runoff and sediment discharge of each hydrological station underwent abrupt changes in the Taohe River Basin from 1956 to 2023. Among them, the abrupt change years of annual runoff and sediment discharge at Hongqi hydrological station were 1987 and 2003, respectively. (3) The runoff-sediment relationship curves of different hydrological stations in the Taohe River Basin from 1956 to 2023 showed a power function. (4) The contribution rates of climate change and human activities to runoff reduction in the Taohe River Basin were 42.54% and 57.47%, respectively. The contribution rates of climate change and human activities to sediment discharge reduction in the Taohe River Basin were 8.53% and 91.47%, respectively. Conclusion The runoff and sediment discharge in the Taohe River Basin showed significant decreasing trends, with the impact of human activities on them accounting for over 50%. Human activities were the main influencing factors of runoff and sediment reduction in the Taohe River Basin.
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