Forest litter plays an important role in controlling soil erosion on slopes, but its control mechanism remains to be clarified. In this study, the effects of different litter cover on runoff and sediment yield on slopes were investigated by laboratory large-scale soil trough and artificial simulated rainfall test. The experiment was conducted under four rainfall intensities (30,60,90,120 mm/h) and three litter mulching treatments (bare slope control, direct laying of litter and net laying of litter). Setting up the net laying of litter, which is in order to study on litter reducing splash erosion with reducing kinetic energy of raindrops. Setting up the direct laying of litter, which is in order to study on blocking interception of litter increasing ground roughness. The results indicated that:(1) The initial runoff generation time of slopes was prolonged by 2.3~5.5 times with the existence of litter, and the net laying of litter was longer than that of direct laying.(2)Compared with bare soil slope, litter decreased the runoff velocity by 47.9%~62.3%, and the smaller the rainfall intensity, the more obvious the effect of litter on reducing the runoff velocity. (3) Litter significantly increases infiltration and decreases runoff, and the effect is more obvious when rainfall intensity is small. (4) litter can reduce runoff and sediment by more than 75%, and direct laying is more obvious, mainly because litter increases surface roughness and reduces flow velocity. This study provides a theoretical basis for the establishment of soil erosion model on vegetation slope, and provides a scientific basis for the construction of vegetation for soil erosion prevention and control.