The increasing demand for environmental protection and sustainable food production requires an enhancement in the application of natural and non-toxic materials in agriculture. A variety of additives have been investigated to improve the compost quality; among them are natural zeolites. In other to improve the absorption capacity of zeolite, different modification process of zeolites can be used. Among others, modifying zeolite with magnesium salt can be used in order to improve the ammonium (NH 4 -N) absorption. In this study, natural and Mg-modified zeolites were applied at three different percentages (i.e., 5%, 10%, and 15% on a weight basis) to the composting materials for improving municipal waste compost quality. The effects of soil amendment with composts containing natural zeolite- and Mg-modified zeolites (SCNZ and SCMZ, respectively) on nitrate leaching, distribution of metals (Zn, Mn, Pb, Ni, Cr, Cd ) in corn plant, water balance components and some morphological and physiological traits of corn were then investigated in a greenhouse experiment. The result showed that, in comparison to the control treatment (no zeolite added), the compost with natural and modified zeolite showed 32.1% and 41.2% reduction in electrical conductivity (EC), respectively. NH 4 -N retention of the matured natural and modified zeolite added compost was increased by 40.3% and 74.7%, respectively. Metals mobility test of the matured composts also revealed that adding zeolite, especially modified zeolite, could decrease the mobility of Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe, Ni and Mn cations. The most decrease in the mobility of metals was observed in Cu, which was about 44.1% and 47.8%, in the compost with natural and modified zeolite, in comparison to the control treatment, respectively. The results showed that the amount of NO 3 -N leached from SCNZ- and SCMZ- amended soils were 21.0% and 28.9% and total drainage water were 29.8% and 37.8% lower than that of SC (soil amended with compost without zeolite) treatment, respectively. Increasing zeolite dosage, from 5% to 15% in the treatments, NO 3 -N leached decreased by 13.2% and 18.9% in SCNZ- and SCMZ- amended soils, respectively. The using compost especially containing Mg-modified zeolites increased plant diameter, plant height, root volume, root dry weight; stem dry weight, leaf dry weight in comparison to SC treatment. Using CMZ amended soils, shoot dry weight increased 11.8% in comparison to the CNZ amended soils. The amount of nitrogen from CNZ- and CMZ-amended soils was approximately 34.7% and 54.5% higher, respectively than that of the CS treatment. The Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cd and Mn concentration in amended soil with compost containing zeolite decreased by 16 to 21 as comparison to CS treatment. Addition of compost containing Mg-modified zeolite decreased the heavy metal concentrations, up to 39%, 61% and 62%, in the roots, stalks, and leaves of corn, respectively, compared to free zeolite compost. Using composts containing zeolite increased water retention and moisture content in the surface layer of soil. Moisture content in the surface layer of soil increased by 4.7%, 5.5% and 9.1% in SC, SCNZ and SCMZ, respectively in compare to unamended soil treatment. The simulation of drainage water and nitrate leaching were done with HYDRUS-1D software. The result of simulation also showed that the amount of drainage water and total nitrate leaching decreased by compost containing zeolite. Overall, the use of zeolite specially Mg- modified form in the composting materials and the use of MSW compost containing modified zeolite would be an efficient method to improve some morphological and physiological traits of corn plant, reduce the nitrate leaching and decrease the heavy metals concentration in corn plant.