[ Objective ]The Pisha sandstone area represents one of the principal concentrated sediment source regions contributing coarse-grained sediments to the middle reaches of the Yellow River. This region is characterized by short-duration, high-intensity rainfall events and complex underlying surface conditions, resulting in severe soil erosion. Investigating the runoff and sediment yield characteristics of slopes under different land-use types during natural rainfall events in this area can provide critical theoretical and data support for elucidating soil erosion mechanisms, thereby offering significant guidance for future ecological restoration initiatives. [ Method ] This study focuses on a small watershed within the Pisha sandstone area of Yijinhuoluo Banner, Inner Mongolia. Utilizing observational data of runoff and sediment yield from natural rainfall events between 2018 and 2023, rainfall types were classified, and the relationships between rainfall characteristics and runoff/sediment yield across various land-use types were analyzed. Furthermore, runoff and sediment yield models for different land uses were developed based on rainfall characteristics and slope gradient. [ Results ] (1) Rainfall events were categorized into three types: Type I (short-duration, moderate-intensity rainfall), which constituted the predominant form, accounting for 80.6% of all rainfall events; Type II (medium-duration, heavy rainfall), with a lower frequency of occurrence (18.6%); and Type III (long-duration, moderate-intensity rainfall), which was the least frequent (0.8%). Type I and Type II rainfall events were identified as the primary contributors to slope runoff, while Type I rainfall was the main source of sediment yield. (2) Under different rainfall types, the general pattern of runoff and sediment yield on 15-degree slopes followed the order: Type I > Type II > Type III. Across various land-use types, the sequence of runoff and sediment yield was consistently: bare land > cropland > grassland > woodland. (3) The interaction between land-use type and slope gradient was the dominant factor influencing runoff yield under Type I rainfall. For Type II rainfall, both individual factors (land-use type and slope) and their interaction significantly affected runoff and sediment yield. Land-use type emerged as the primary factor governing runoff yield under Type III rainfall. [ Conclusion ] The models developed in this study, which integrate rainfall characteristics with land-use types and slope gradients, can be effectively applied to simulate soil erosion under diverse land-use scenarios in Pisha sandstone areas.