5_2_strict_pome_fruits

Specific requirements for pome fruit orchards are:

• Overall bare soil management of orchards throughout the year is not permitted. In arid areas bare soil management is permitted in spring and summer to avoid competition for water and nutrients.
• Green cover can be used depending on local conditions. A vegetation cover in at least the alleyways is mandatory during the winter time.
• Herbicides may only be used to supplement mechanical and physical weed control methods.
• Herbicides must not be used to achieve overall bare soil. They can only be used locally during spring and summer when physical or mechanical control (preferred option) is not appropriate.
• IP guidelines must specify a maximum width for the weed free strip and/or percentage of the soil surface which may be weed-free. 

The procedures for practical implementation must be defined in the regional guidelines according to climate, soil type, cultivars and precipitation.