Abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore the change of flow characteristics of sloping farmland under heavy rainfall conditions in arid valley. In this study, Hanyuan County as the research area, using artificial simulation precipitation experiment. Three different precipitations (1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mm/min) and three different slopes (10°, 15° and 20°) were set in the experiment.The effects of different precipitation on hydraulic properties on cross-ridge slope and flat slope were investigated.The results showed that with the increase of rainfall duration, the erosion sediment yield of all slopes increased firstly and then decreased. The resistance coefficient gradually decreases and then tends to be stable. The runoff shear force and unit runoff power increase gradually with time and then maintain a relatively stable state.With the increase of rainfall, sediment yield, runoff shear force and unit runoff power of cross-ridge slope increased by 4.43～38.96 times, 0.49～3.40 times and 0.64～1.50 times respectively. On the flat slope, the sediment yield increased by 1.46～1.81 times, the runoff shear force increased by 0.94～1.30 times, and the unit runoff power increased by 0.11～0.52 times.Under different experimental conditions, the erosion sediment yield rate and runoff shear force of cross- ridge slope were significantly lower than those of flat slope, and the resistance coefficient and unit runoff power of cross- ridge slope and flat slope were different, but there was no obvious regularity. As precipitation increased from 1.0 mm/min to 2.0 mm/min, the runoff pattern on all slopes changed from "laminar slow-flow zone" (Re< 500, Fr< 1) to "turbulent slow-flow zone" (Re> 500, Fr< 1). In summary, under the condition of heavy precipitation, hilly croplands with different slopes can effectively control the process of water and sediment by cross ridge measures, thus achieving good sediment reduction benefits.