Agassi, M., Soil Erosion Research Station, Midreshet Rupin Post, Israel
Hadas, A., Institute of Soils and Water, ARO, Volcani Center, Bet-Dagan, Israel
Benyamini, Y., Soil Erosion Research Station, Midreshet Rupin Post, Israel
Levy, G.J., Institute of Soils and Water, ARO, Volcani Center, Bet-Dagan, Israel
Kautsky, L., Institute of Soils and Water, ARO, Volcani Center, Bet-Dagan, Israel
Avrahamov, L., Soil Erosion Research Station, Midreshet Rupin Post, Israel
Zhevelev, H., Bar-Ilan University, Department of Geography, Ramat-Gan, Israel

Composted municipal solid wastes (CMSW) could potentially be used as a mulching material to control runoff and soil erosion. The effects of mulching with CMSW on water percolation and rate of compost decomposition were studied using laboratory rainfall simulator. Samples of typical loess soil (Calcic Haploxeralf) were packed in boxes and either covered with 0, 100, 200 and 300 m3 ha-1 of CMSW, or mixed with 200 m3 ha -1 of CMSW. The soil boxes were subjected to six consecutive simulated rainstorms of distilled water, totaling 260 mm. Rate of CMSW mineralization and microbial activity were estimated from CO2 evolution and dehydrogenase (DHG) and fluorescein diacetate (FDA) activities, respectively, during the drying periods between rain storms. With the surface CMSW treatments, 85 percent of the rain water percolated into the soil, compared with 42 and 52 percent in the control and incorporated CMSW treatments, respectively. Rate of CMSW mineralization, estimated from CO2 evolution throughout the drying periods between six consecutive rainstorms, was 19, 13 and 11 percent of C added, in the 100, 200 and 300 m3 ha -1 of surface applied CMSW, respectively. The degradation of the compost had not ceased at the end of the experiment, as indicated by continuing enzyme activities and respiration simulated by the compost. Although 100 m 3 ha-1 of CMSW was enough to control runoff efficiently in the laboratory, in the field, larger amounts may be needed to provide complete mulching of the soil surface. © Copyright Taylor & Francis.