Water and sediment yield from a small catchment in the hilly granitic region, South China

Shenchong experimental basin is located in subtropical Deqing County, in the hilly region of South China. It has a catchment area of 0.73 km(2), and is underlain by granitic rocks with a weathering mantle of about 30 m. Water and sediment yield were monitored at the basin outlet and at a location about 230 m upstream, such that the section between the two stations coincides with the concentration of large gullies. These gullies produce most of the sediment yield of the basin and the pattern of sediment discharge mirrors that of rainfall. However, gullies contribute comparatively little runoff to the basin outflow. Other surface types, including bare slopes, bare rills and the valley floor, together yield considerable runoff because of their large areal coverage.