2.1. Study area
Low input managed plots were established at Texas A&M
University’s Horticulture Farm (30370N, 96220W) during the
2011 and 2012 growing seasons. Average monthly air temperatures
for this area from May to October when the study was conducted
ranged from 28 to 39 C for the maximum and 15–26 C for the
minimum in 2011 and 27–37 C and 15–25 C in 2012 (NOAA/
NCDC).1 Total precipitation for the 2011 growing season (August
1 through October 31) was significantly less than for the
2012 growing season (June 21 through October 31), 98 and
185mm, respectively (NOAA/NCDC; Fig. A1).1 Additionally, there
were more frequent precipitation events in 2012, particularly at
the time of planting. Supplemental irrigation was applied several
times during each growing season (Fig. A1), making total water
input for 2011 244mm and 2012 483mm.