Effectiveness of mixed cultivated grasslands to reduce sediment concentration in runoff on hillslopes in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

•Grassland significantly modified the hydrological response of bare soil.•Effectiveness of grasslands on controlling soil erosion was examined in-situ.•Cultivated grasslands could increase runoff and reduce sediment concentration.•Combination of rhizomatic type and dense-plexus type prevent soil erosion.•Plant characteristics should be considered when cultivating grassland in alpine areas.