**2. Materials and Methods**

### *2.1. Experimental Site*

This study was conducted at the University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources Kearney Research and Extension Center (36◦36 02.2" N 119◦30 38.8" W) in Parlier, California (Figure 1). The study site consisted of 36 plots. Each plot was roughly 14 m2 with an approximately 60 cm border between the adjacent plots.

**Figure 1.** The location of the study area.

Figure 2a depicts the long-term mean cumulative reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and precipitation data measured by the California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS) weather station #75 located close to the study site. Long-term annual weather data show that ETo is roughly five times greater than the precipitation received in this area. Irrigation is necessary to keep the urban landscape species alive, particularly during the summer months when evaporative demand is highest. The soil at the research site is classified as Hanford fine sandy loam (websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov, accessed on 27 August 2021). The laboratory analysis of undisturbed samples collected from the top 20 cm revealed that the available soil water-holding capacity is 0.19 m3 m−<sup>3</sup> for 10 and 1500 kPa that represent field capacity and permanent wilting point, respectively [29].

**Figure 2.** The long-term mean reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and precipitation trends at the study site from a nearby weather station (**a**). A photo taken on 30 May 2018 showing the research plots (**b**).
