The presence of crop residues on the soil surface of no-till cropping systems has important consequences on water flows between the atmosphere, litter layer (mulch) and soil. The consequences of rainfall on the transport of soluble C from litter layers are poorly known, despite their importance for soil carbon (C) and nutrient cycling. We quantified relationships among the rain amount and intensity, the water retention by mulches and the soluble C loss from mulches under rainfall. Mulches of residues from mature crops (maize, soybean and rice) and a cover crop (pea) were placed under continuous simulated rains with intensities of 4, 11 and 24 mm h-1 for 23 hours, and we measured the water interception dynamics of the mulches and the water and soluble C flows under the mulches.