Highlights: • Runoff and soil detachment were monitored for 3 years in a young rubber plantation. • The planting row, where soil is bare, was the hotspot of runoff and soil loss. • In the inter-rows, logging residues and legume drastically reduced nutrient losses. • Losses were negatively correlated with soil structure and soil macrofauna diversity. • We recommend reducing the width of the planting row or sowing a low-invasive cover. Abstract: Soil erosion on agricultural land is a major threat for food and raw materials production. It has become a major concern in rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) plantations introduced on sloping ground. Alternative agroecological crop management practices must be investigated. One aim of our study was to assess the ability of logging residues (i.e., trunks, branches, leaves and stumps of a clearcut plantation) and of legume cover (Pueraria phaseoloides) to mitigate N, P and K losses through runoff and soil detachment in a young rubber plantation. The other aim was to investigate the relationships of these nutrient losses with soil structure and soil macrofauna diversity. Runoff and soil loss were monitored for 3 years using 1-m2 plots under different practices as regards the management of logging residues and the use or not of a legume. The monitoring started when rubber trees were one-year-old. The planting row, where soil was bare, was the hotspot of soil erosion, with an average runoff of 832 mm y−1 and soil loss of 3.2 kg m−2 y−1. Sowing a legume in the inter-row reduced runoff and soil loss by 88 % and 98 % respectively, compared to bare soil. Spreading logging residues as well as growing a legume cover almost eliminated runoff and soil detachment (19 mm y−1 and 4 g m−2 y−1 respectively). Nutrient losses were negligible as long as the soil surface was covered by a legume crop, with or without logging residues. Total N loss from soil detachment ranged from 0.02 to 0.2 g m−2 y−1, for example. Spreading logging residues in the inter-rows significantly improved soil structure and soil macrofauna diversity compared to bare soil. Nutrient losses from runoff and soil detachment were negatively correlated with improved soil structure and soil macrofauna diversity. We recommend investigating alternative ways to manage planting rows. Graphical abstract: https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0048969723079652-ga1.jpg