Introduction Irrigation-induced soil erosion poses a serious challenge to sustainable agriculture on sloping lands in arid and semi-arid regions. Conventional straight furrow irrigation often accelerates soil and nutrient losses and reduces water use efficiency.Methods Field experiments were conducted during the 2019-2021 growing seasons in the Piskent district of the Tashkent region, Uzbekistan, on meadow-sierozem soils with slope gradients of 1.5 degrees, 2.5 degrees, and 3.5 degrees. A randomized complete block design was used to compare zig-zag furrow irrigation with conventional straight furrow irrigation. Measurements included flow characteristics, soil erosion, nutrient losses, irrigation water use, water use efficiency, and seed cotton yield.Results Zig-zag furrow irrigation significantly reduced flow velocity and soil erosion, resulting in a 4-5-fold decrease in soil loss compared to conventional furrows. Seasonal irrigation water use decreased by 15-20%, while nitrogen and phosphorus losses were reduced by 35-40%. Water use efficiency improved from 1902 m & sup3; t(-)& sup1; to 1426 m & sup3; t(-)& sup1;, and seed cotton yield increased by 0.32-0.43 t ha(-)& sup1;.Discussion The results demonstrate that modifying furrow geometry through a zig-zag configuration enhances regulating ecosystem services related to soil conservation, water regulation, and nutrient retention. This low-cost and scalable approach offers a practical solution for improving irrigation sustainability and crop productivity on erosion-prone sloping lands.