Vegetable cultivation under plastic tunnels is a steadily growing agricultural sector but concern developedover environmental sustainability of this farming system. Our aim was to identify organic amendmentswith a biochemical quality that effectively balance the trade-off between organic carbon recovery, interms of increasing soil organic C stock, and nutrient mineralization. A three-year field experiment wascarried out in two farms of southern Italy characterized by plastic tunnel cultivation and contrasting soilcharacteristics. Two compost–wood mixtures were used, with final C/N ratio of 15 and 25, and supplied intwo doses (30 and 60 Mg ha−1). Vegetable yield was assessed by monitoring 14 cropping cycles, and soilquality by determining 18 soil parameters including chemical and biological properties. Crop yields weresignificantly higher in amendment plots, compared to unamended control plots under plastic tunnel, for12 out of 14 cropping cycles. Combined application of compost and wood allowed an effective recoveryof soil C content within three years. Soil amendments improved soil biological functions as revealed bya general trend of positive effects on dehydrogenase, phosphatase and -glucosidase as well as on soilrespiration. The higher C/N ratio mixture determined only a short-term restriction of mineral nitrogenavailability. Organic amended plots showed a significant increase in soil exchangeable Na+and electricalconductivity compared with untreated controls. Compost–woody combination can be used to recover soilcarbon stock and fertility and, at the same time, to support vegetable production under plastic tunnels.However, the possible increase of soil salinity after compost amendment may negatively affect soil qualityin the long-term.