The potential impact of different types of organic (sewage sludge) or inorganic (mineral fertilizer) amendments to a basic soil was investigated under dry conditions. A soil incubation experiment was carried out over 64 days; there were two fertility treatments: sewage sludge (SS) (140 t ha(-1)), mineral fertilizer (M) and an unamended control (C). Two levels of irrigation were imposed: (1) well-watered, kept at 60% of its water holding capacity, and (2) water-deficit at 6%. Available N-NO3-, N-NH4+ and P, and electrical conductivity (EC) increased in SS and M-treated soils. Under well-watered conditions activities of some enzymes (protease-BAA, phosphatase and beta-glucosidase), and microbiological properties (microbial biomass carbon, basal respiration and dehydrogenase activity) were stimulated in SS-treated soils. Under water-deficit conditions, protease-BAA, phosphatase and P-glucosidase activities, and basal respiration were more reduced in SS than in C and M. Results showed that under severe dry conditions, soil microbial activity always remained higher in organic amended soils than when mineral fertilizer was added. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All fights reserved.