Abstract:Counter tillage is a common soil and water conservation tillage practice, which can influence the soil erosion process by increasing storage and infiltration capacity on sloping farmland. However, studies about the effects of counter tillage on nutrient losses during soil erosion processes on sloping farmland are still limited. 【 Objective】 Therefore, this study aimed to reveal the characteristics of nutrient loss on sloping farmland. 【 Method】 In this study, the rainfall simulation was conducted with a rainfall intensity of 90 mm·hh–1, five slope gradients (3°, 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°) and two types of slope treatments (counter tillage and flat slope) on runoff plots with projection length 4.5 m and projection width 1.5 m to explore the effects of counter tillage on the characteristics of soil erosion and nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient losses on sloping farmland of different slope gradient. 【 Result】 The results showed that: (1) When the slope gradient was less than 20°, counter tillage significantly reduced the amount of runoff and sediment on the sloping farmland and the amount of runoff and sediment reduced by a maximum of 95% and 99% respectively. When the slope gradient increased to 20°, a break in the ridge occurred on the counter tillage and the control effect on the runoff and sediment was gradually weakened. Also, the amount of runoff and sediment was close to or greater than that of the flat slope. (2) The effect of counter tillage on the concentration of nutrient loss was small, but it had a significant effect on the nutrient losses. When the slope gradient was less than 20°, the counter tillage had a better effect on controlling the nutrient losses on the sloping farmland. However, when the slope gradient increased to 20°, the effect of counter tillage on controlling nutrient losses was weakened. Additionally, TN losses were always greater than TP losses in runoff; except for the 10° slope gradient on CT, while TP losses were greater than TN in sediment. (3) The nutrient losses were mainly determined by the amount of runoff and sediment, while the nutrient loss rate and runoff rate or sediment production rate satisfied a linear positive correlation. In addition, the reduction benefits of nutrient losses on counter tillage in runoff and sediment can reach 45% to 100% and 59% to 100%, respectively. 【 Conclusion】 Our results show that counter tillage is an effective tillage practice to control soil erosion and nutrient losses.