This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of slow release fertilizers (SRF), crotonylidene diurea (CDU) and latex coated urea (LCU), on nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE) and nitrate-N leaching in a silty clay loam soil under polyethylene film mulching (PFM) for sesame cultivation. In PFM plot, concentrations of NO3-N and NH4-N in SRF applied soils were less than that in the urea plot during the whole growing period. However, NO3-N and NH4-N in all the non-mulched plots (NM) were not significantly different. Urea-N in soil treated with SRF was higher than urea plot until 50 days after application and was comparable in all the treatments after 50 days. NO3-N concentrations in leached solution in 21 days after urea fertilization in PFM and NM were 26 mg L-1 and 83 mg L-1 , respectively. However, NO3-N in leached solution at applied CDU and LCU was less than that of urea similar to nitrate concentration in soil. NO3-N in leached solution in applied CDU and LCU in 44 days after application was about 25% lower than that urea plot and PFM, while the NO3-N concentration of CDU and LCU treatment in NM did not changed. Application of SRF increased the yield of sesame and N recovery compared to urea and there was a little difference between SRF and N levels. In conclusion, application of 80% N level with SRF increased N recovery and reduced nitrate leaching without reduction of yields compared with urea application.