Land managed according to the principles of
organic farming currently represents 7.94% of the
total area farmed in Italy (IFOAM, 2003). Organic
farmers do not use synthetic fertilizers and pesticides
and attempt to close nutrient cycle on their farms,
protect environmental quality, and enhance beneficial
biological interactions and processes (Vandermer,
1995). Fertility management in organic farming relies
on a long-term integrated approach rather than the
more short-term very targeted solutions common in
conventional agriculture (Watson et al., 2002). Soil
quality is a necessary indicator of sustainability land