Abstract: Abstract:Background In semi-arid regions, soil erosion and water loss issues poses a significant threat to the sustainable development of local agriculture and forestry. Rainfall is a major influencing factor leading to soil erosion，and soil erosion caused by erosive rainfall mainly depends on factors such as rainfall amount, rainfall duration, and rainfall intensity. Therefore, studying the comprehensive impacts of different rainfall types and various governance measures on slope soil erosion and water loss is of extremely important practical significance for carrying out slope soil and water conservation work. Methods This study took the slope runoff observation field in Xiaoqingshan, Lanzhou as the research object, and sets up runoff plots with two slope gradients (10° and 20°) and five different vegetation covers (bare land, potato, flax, grassland, Caragana korshinskii ), Rainfall data and runoff-sediment production data from 2021 to 2024 were collected. Erosive rainfall was classified using the K-means clustering method, and an in-depth analysis was conducted on the characteristics and key influencing factors of slope runoff and sediment production under different rainfall types. Results (1) A total of 55 erosive rainfall events were recorded, accounting for 71.8 % of the total rainfall. (2) Erosive rainfall could be categorized into four distinct types: Type I (moderate frequency, low rainfall amount, high intensity, short duration), Type II (low frequency, moderate rainfall amount, low intensity, long duration), Type III (high frequency, moderate rainfall amount, moderate intensity, medium duration), and Type IV (low frequency, high rainfall amount, high intensity, long duration). Type IV rainfall exhibited the highest intensity, greatest erosivity, and generated the largest volumes of runoff and sediment compared to the other types. (3) Under different types of erosive rainfall, the characteristics of runoff and sediment production in each runoff plot varied significantly. The bare land had the highest runoff and sediment yields, while Caragana korshinskii -covered land, agricultural land, and grassland had relatively lower yields. Additionally, the overall runoff and sediment production on the 20° slope was higher than that on the 10° slope. (4) Rainfall amount and rainfall erosivity are the main factors influencing runoff and sediment production, followed by average rainfall intensity and maximum 30-minute rainfall intensity (I30), with rainfall duration having a relatively smaller impact. Conclusion This study analyzed the impacts of various surface vegetation types and slope gradients on slope soil erosion and water loss under different types of erosive rainfall, providing data support for the rational planning of vegetation planting and land use. and determining that rainfall amount and rainfall erosivity are the main factors influencing runoff and sediment production, providing scientific guidance for soil and water conservation work to allocate resources rationally. Overall, this study provides a theoretical basis for carrying out slope soil and water conservation work in semi-arid regions.