5_2_strict_stone_fruits

Specific requirements for stone fruit orchards are:

Overall bare soil management of orchards throughout the years is not permitted. In arid areas (without irrigation), bare soil management by soil tillage is permitted in spring and summer. Regional or national 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.

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.