Abstract. An agrochemical assessment of the soils fertility under organic farming practices has been performed in The Research and Development Station for Vegetable Growing in Bacău. Fertility parameters, including soil pH, varied very little along the fifteen years of organic trials. The results oppose other findings recently published on an investigation carried in Romania revealing that soil acidification is a reality of organic farming. There are plenty of important papers that give a better insight of the effect that certified organic practices have on soils. Yet, the advocates of soil acidification induced by organic farming practices have used references that cannot back the conclusion that soil acidification is a common pattern in organic farming. Generalizing that organic farming leads to soil acidification does not make sense. Moreover, the statement made that it makes scientific and practical sense to use the pH as indicator of organic management of the soils is based on local findings only and should not be considered as a reliable proposal. The present paper findings stands for the already recognized environmental benefits of the organic farming carried under a proper management.

Key words: soil, pH, acidification, organic farming

Presentation: oral