Abstract: This study aimed to address the challenges associated with water resources scarcity and soil erosion hazards. We conducted a field experiment following split-plot design, with planting pattern (flat planting with half film mulching and double ridge-furrow planting with full film mulching) as main plots and slope gradient (5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, and 25°) as split-plots. The impacts of different planting patterns on runoff characteristics, sediment loss, soil nutrient loss, and corn  yield of sloping farmland were examined. Results showed that runoff volume, runoff coefficient, and sediment loss in the treatment of flat planting with half film mulching first increased and then decreased as slope gradient increased. Runoff volume, runoff coefficient, and sediment loss in the treatment of double ridge-furrow planting with full film mulching increased as slope gradient increased. The maize  yield in both planting patterns first increased and then decreased as slope gradient increased. Compared to flat planting with half film mulching, double ridge-furrow planting with full film mulching significantly reduced organic matter loss (51.9%), total nitrogen loss (59.8%), total phosphorus loss (42.6%) and total potassium loss (27.5%), while significantly increased runoff volume (8.6%-127.6%), runoff coefficient (8.6%-127.6%), rainfall thresholds for runoff generation (5.8%), and sediment loss (23.5%). Double ridge-furrow planting with full film mulching increased runoff and sediment loss and reduced nutrient loss in runoff and sediment, and thereby increased maize  yield (20.9%-42.1%). This planting pattern has good water and soil conservation and yield-increasing benefits, and is suitable for application in slope ranges of 11° to 13°. The results revealed the influence mechanism of double ridge-furrow planting with full film mulching on the soil erosion process in slope farmland and provided a scientific basis for soil erosion control and efficient water resources utilization in dryland farming of the Loess Plateau.

Key words: runoff, sediment, nutrition loss, rainfall threshold for runoff generation, slope cropland