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 beta-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.