Abstract: Slope farmland, the predominant land use type in the Three Gorges Reservoir area, significantly impacts the regional ecological environment, primarily due to soil erosion resulting from agricultural practices. Soil erosion patterns on sloping farmland in this area exhibit distinct characteristics influenced by varying climates, terrains, and other factors. Additionally, the effectiveness of soil and water conservation practices varies considerably. Crop coverage, a key measure for soil erosion control, requires further investigation to regulate the relationship between slope sediment and runoff under different rainfall and terrain conditions. This article analyzed rainfall characteristics in the study area based on a dataset of 108 natural rainfall observations from 2021 to 2023. Rainfall events were classified into distinct patterns based on four indicators: rainfall amount, duration, intensity, and maximum 30-minute intensity, employing K-means clustering analysis. Data on runoff and sediment yield were collected from five experimental plots with different slope crop coverages, using bare slopes as controls. The effects of various rainfall characteristics (type, intensity, and maximum 30-minute intensity) and five slope gradients (5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 25°) on runoff and sediment yield were examined. The study also assessed the sediment and runoff reduction benefits of crop coverage. Contributions of rainfall type and slope gradient to sediment and runoff yield on crop-covered slopes were quantified. Additionally, Pearson correlation analysis explored the relationship between runoff and sediment yield of different surfaces with rainfall characteristics and slope. The findings indicate that: 1) Based on four rainfall characteristic indicators, rainfall amount, duration, intensity, and maximum 30-minute intensity, the 108 rainfall events could be categorized into three distinct patterns: A-type (low frequency, long duration, heavy rainfall, and low intensity), B-type (medium frequency, medium duration, moderate rainfall, and moderate intensity), and C-type (high frequency, short duration, light rainfall, and high intensity). C-type rainfall predominates as the erosive type in the study area. Critical thresholds for rainfall amount, intensity, and maximum 30-minute intensity triggering slope erosion in the area were 6～21 mm, 1.1～3.6 mm·h⁻¹, and 1.2～7.6 mm·h⁻¹, respectively. 2) Rainfall amount, intensity, and maximum 30-minute intensity significantly influence runoff generation on both bare and crop-covered slopes (P<0.05). However, slope sediment yield was predominantly correlated with runoff generation (P<0.01). Under identical runoff conditions, the sediment yield from C-type rainfall was 1.06 to 20.18 times greater than that from A-type and B-type rainfall. As the slope increased, the fitting coefficient of the linear relationship between sediment and water coverage of various crops increases by 1.33 to 5.06 times. 3) The analysis revealed that the impact of various rainfall types on runoff and sediment generation on bare slopes and crop-covered slopes followed the order: C-type > B-type > A-type. The average contributions of C-type rainfall to runoff and sediment production on slopes were 48.19% and 81.82%, respectively. Crop coverage significantly mitigated soil erosion on slopes, achieving reductions in runoff and sediment of 61.67% and 77.15%, respectively. And slope erosion may have a critical slope between 15° and 25° as the slope increases. The stronger the rainfall, the less the impact of slope on runoff and sediment production on the slope surface. The contribution rate of rainfall pattern to runoff and sediment yield on crop-covered slopes surpassed 60%, and its influence was 2.60 to 5.05 times greater than that of slope gradient. The research findings can offer scientific guidance for the comprehensive management of soil erosion in sloping farmland within the study area. Furthermore, they provide a scientific basis and practical direction for establishing design standards for relevant erosion control measures on sloping farmland.