Landscape Pattern Changes Affect Runoff and Sediment Yield in the Nandong Underground River System in Southwest China

Since 2008, soil and water treatment and ecological restoration have been applied in the karst areas of Southwest China, but the effect of the treatments in karst fault basins is not clear. As a typical watershed of a faulted basin, studying the influence of landscape pattern changes on runoff and sediment yields in the Nandong underground river system (NURS) helps to establish the relationship between watershed and runoff and sediment changes. It provides a theoretical basis and effective method for water and soil management assessment, and soil and water treatment in karst fault basins. The vegetation topographic factor (VTF) was constructed using the normalized vegetation index (NDVI), digital elevation model (DEM) and water-system map from 2000 to 2018. On the basis of VTF classification, the vegetation topographic landscape index (VTLI) was calculated using the FRAGSTATS software, and the effects of VTLI changes on NURS runoff and sediment yield were analyzed. The study found the following: (1) PD, IJI, LSI and SHDI were positively correlated with runoff and sediment yield ( p < 0.01), and the correlation coefficients were 0.693, 0.668, 0.551 and 0.582 and 0.62, 0.635, 0.627 and 0.63, respectively. AI and CONNECT were significantly negatively correlated with runoff and sediment yield ( p < 0.01), and the correlation coefficients were −0.551 and −0.596, −0.627 and −0.446, respectively. The LPI and DIVISION index were not significantly correlated with discharge, but were significantly correlated with sediment yield ( p < 0.05), and the correlation coefficients were −0.179 and 0.271, respectively. (2) The interpretation of VTLI for runoff increased from 0.639 to 0.778, and the interpretation of sediment transport decreased from 0.809 to 0.613. (3) In urban areas, VTF decreased and was persistent. VTF increased in the basin mountain edge area. In mountainous areas, VTF was unchanged, but has an antipersistence trend. The NURS ecological restoration project had achieved obvious results, and the change in the watershed increased runoff production and reduced sediment production. The capacity of soil and water conservation in the high slope area of the mountain edge of the basin recovered and showed a trend of sustainable development. Due to the urban expansion brought about by economic development, the capacity of soil and water conservation around the city has declined, and it showed a sustainable development trend. Policymakers should strengthen the ecological environment of urban areas and coordinate development within mountainous areas.