ABSTRACT
Cultural practices are encompassed with the objective of maintaining and supplying optimum moisture and nutrients to the soil and plants. The major orchard management practices in apples include irrigation, fertigation and weed management. Irrigation, a major horticultural activity, plays a very important role in almost every contemporary modern fruit company. Irrigation plays an important role in crop production and is considered an important aspect of orchard management. The water needs of the crop are governed by the annual phenological and soil-water-plant relationships. Evapotranspiration is a management method that is a critical factor in irrigation scheduling. Fertigation is another important production tool which delivers water, nutrients and chemicals in the right place and at the right time, frequently and correct amount with the highest efficacy and uniformity. Optimum plant growth requires a weed-free period especially during the initial years of tree establishment which in turn guarantees enhanced vegetative as well fruit growth.
