11 sub-catchments in the Qiantang River catchment, northeastern Zhejiang province were selected, and runoff and sediment yield data in 1964-2015 monitored at the hydrometric stations were used to obtain catchment sediment yield YS and YSS (YSS，the ratio of YS to catchment area). Their spatial variations and the potential influencing factors of catchment YS and YSS were analyzed through correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that the catchment YS and YSS varied greatly in space. The catchments YSS ranged from 113.26 t/(km2·a) to 309.55 t/(km2·a)，with an average of 185.51 t/(km2·a). Catchment YS was positively correlated with drainage area, stream length and runoff amount at 0.05 significance level. In contrast, catchment YSS was negatively correlated with drainage area. However, landscape metrics such as patch density, aggregation index and Shannon′s diversity index were significantly correlated with catchment YSS. The multiple regression analysis showed that the performances of YS and YSS model were satisfactory. The contributions of morphological factors such as catchment area and river length to catchment YS reached 75.6%. The contribution of landscape metrics to catchment YSS reached 44.4%. In the study area, catchment YSS was closely related to the landscape patterns. This study implies that reasonable adjustment of landscape patterns is one of effective ways to control catchment sediment loss in the Qiantang River catchment and other catchments with similar environmental characteristics.

Qiantang River catchment; catchment sediment yield; spatial feature; influencing factor