[Objective] The runoff distribution and soil-water conservation benefits of slope croplands with different planting patterns in dry-hot valleys were analyzed in order to provide a scientific basis for the construction of soil and water conservation orchards in the Jinsha River dry-hot valley. [Methods] An in-situ runoff plot monitoring was used, and two typical planting patterns of fruit trees in dry-hot valley slope cropland were selected for the study: monoculture (grapes, dates, and stylosanthes) and fruit-grass intercropping (grapes+stylosanthes, dates+stylosanthes); the bare land was used as a control. The differences in surface runoff, subsurface flow, and soil erosion between different crops and planting patterns were compared to explore the runoff allocation mechanism and evaluate the soil and water conservation benefits on different planting patterns. [Results] Surface runoff was dominant in dry-hot valleys under different cropping patterns, and bare land runoff(53.2%—94.07%), rainfall amount, rainfall intensity, and vegetation coverage were the key factors affecting soil erosion in the dry-hot valley slope cropland. Different planting patterns regulated the distribution of runoff in the deep soil layers to significantly reduce surface runoff (50.79%—89.70%) and sediment runoff (54.66%—77.13%). The 50 cm and 100 cm interflows of the fruit-grass intercropping pattern were higher than those of the other patterns. The runoff reduction (78.53%, 72.54%) and sediment reduction (71.76%, 63.21%) benefits of the fruit-grass intercropping pattern (dates+stylosanthes, grapes+stylosanthes) were significantly higher than those of the monoculture pattern. [Conclusion] The fruit-grass composite intercropping system redistributes rainfall runoff by directing surface runoff into deep soil, thus providing better benefits for soil and water conservation.