This period increased with an increasing mulch rate. The runoff rate of the bare soil plot increased more rapidly than that of the mulched plots in the initial stage of runoff. This behavior was also found by Pan and Shangguan (2006) who studied the runoff hydraulic characteristics in grass plots on a slope of 26.8%. After the runoff rate had reached a steady state, it remained constant with small fluctuations. The peak runoff rate was also observed in this stage. In the bare soil plot, the peak runoff rate occurred when rainfall stopped, as was also reported by Bissonnais and Singer (1992). However, the peak runoff rate differed in the steady state of the mulched plots. The average runoff rate and peak runoff rate increased progressively with the rainfall intensity and decreased with an increasing mulch rate. After the rainfall stopped, the runoff rate decreased with time until the runoff ceased.