In order to understand the characteristics of soil and water loss and benefit of soil and water conservation on the cross ridge slope in arid valley area, field investigation and indoor artificial rainfall simulation were carried out, and the characteristics of runoff and sediment yield and benefit of runoff and sediment reduction on cross ridge slope were analyzed under four rainfall intensities (30, 60, 90 and 120 mm/h) and four slopes (10°, 15°, 20° and 25°). And the flat sloping farmland was taken as the control. The results showed that: (1) The runoff production time on the cross ridge slope was advanced with the increasing of rainfall intensity and slope gradient, and it was much less affected by slope than by rainfall intensity. Under the same conditions, the runoff production time on cross ridge slope lagged behind that of flat sloping farmland by 8.14%~55.60%. (2) With the increasing of rainfall intensity and slope gradient, both runoff yield and sediment yield on the cross ridge slope showed an increasing trend. (3) With the increasing of rainfall intensity, the relationship between slope gradient and benefit of runoff and sediment reduction on cross ridge slope changed from positive phase to negative phase, while the relationship between rainfall intensity and benefit of runoff and sediment reduction on cross ridge slope was complex without obvious change law. Rainfall intensity and slope gradient had important effect on the process of runoff and sediment yield and the benefit of runoff and sediment reduction on the cross ridge slope, and cross ridge slope could prolong the time of slope runoff formation, effectively reduce the slope sediment production rate, however there were critical conditions for the effect of runoff and sediment reduction on the cross ridge slope. The results could provide data support and theoretical basis for the regional reasonable layout of farmland cross ridge measures and the effective prevention and control of soil erosion.