[Objective] The response mechanism of runoff surface sediment and nitrogen and phosphorus loss to rainfall patterns under different holding measure was studied to optimize the scientific configuration of soil and water conservation measures on southern China’s red soil slopes， and provide a theoretical basis for soil and water erosion management in the region. [Methods] Taking the southern red loam area as the study area， based on natural rainfall data from 2019 to 2022， field runoff plot observations were employed to systematically evaluate differently configured soil and water conservation measures， such as orchard clear-tillage control， planting measures （M₁）， cross-slope intercropping （M₂）， down-slope intercropping （M₃）， terracing plus planting （M₄）， and terracing engineering （M₅）. Soil and water conservation measures were configured to systematically analyze runoff sediment characteristics and nitrogen and phosphorus loss in response to rainfall patterns. [Results] The composition of rainfall patterns in the study area was dominated by an advanced pattern comprising short-duration， high-intensity rainfall （41.18%） and an intermediate pattern comprising medium-duration， medium-intensity rainfall （47.06%）， while the delayed pattern of long-duration， low-intensity rainfall accounted for the smallest proportion. Both plant measures （M₁） and terracing plus plant measures （M₅） significantly reduced runoff sediment and losses of nitrogen and phosphorus. Under the advanced pattern， runoff depth and sediment loss were reduced by 61.2% and 91.3% for M₁， and by 58% and 94% for M₅； under the intermediate pattern， runoff depth was reduced by 70.6% and 54.2%， and the amount of sediment was reduced by 80.8% and 82.6%； under the delayed pattern， runoff depth was still reduced by 60.5% and the amount of sediment was reduced by 74.7% for M₁. In terms of controlling nitrogen and phosphorus loss， M₁ and M₅ significantly reduced total phosphorus concentration under all rainfall patterns， with 32.5% and 36.1% reductions in the advanced pattern， and M₅ reduced total nitrogen by 16.3%—21.3%. Downslope intercropping （M₃） increased the amount of sediment （0.424 kg） and total phosphorus concentration （0.127 mg/L） by 42.3% and 53.0%， respectively， under the advanced pattern when compared to CK， because the erosion risk was exacerbated by the matching ridge and slope orientations. [Conclusion] Among different soil and water conservation measures for southern China’s red soil slopes， plant measures and also terraced field projects combined with plant measures， can effectively prevent and control soil erosion under rainy conditions through engineering and the interception and storage of vegetation. Therefore， these measures should be given due attention in soil erosion control on these slopes.