Objective Rainfall-runoff is the primary driving force of erosion and sediment yield on the Loess Plateau. Vegetation enhances resistance to storm erosion by reducing rainfall-induced runoff generation and improving soil anti-erosion capability. The soil and water conservation effects of vegetation at different restoration stages have been a focus of both scientific research and practical applications. Methods This study was conducted in a typical small watershed of the loess hilly-gully region. Four vegetation restoration duration gradients (1, 11, 15, and 25 years) were selected. Field overland flow scouring experiments were carried out to systematically analyze the regulatory patterns of vegetation restoration duration on slope runoff hydrodynamic characteristics and sediment reduction effects. Results With increasing restoration duration, both slope runoff volume and sediment yield decreased significantly, and the runoff-sediment process became more stable. The vegetation community restored for 11 years showed a relatively good runoff reduction benefit (36.7%), while the vegetation community restored for 25 years exhibited an excellent sediment reduction benefit (95.2%). Under experimental conditions, the sediment reduction effect (84.1%) was greater than the runoff reduction effect (22.4%). As restoration duration increased, runoff velocity and Froude number decreased, with the maximum velocity reduction reaching 61%. Meanwhile, the resistance coefficient and shear stress of runoff increased with restoration duration (increasing by 12.5% to 45.1% at 25 years compared with 1 year). Correlation analysis indicated that the relationship between sediment yield and hydrodynamic parameters weakened with longer restoration duration but strengthened with increasing scouring intensity. A significant power function relationship (R²>0.96) was found between cumulative runoff energy consumption and cumulative sediment detachment; however, this correlation weakened with increasing vegetation restoration duration. Conclusion The findings of this study provide a scientific basis for vegetation restoration and soil erosion control on slopes in the Loess Plateau.
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