Forage quality parameters of differently treated meadow plots (control, control +shelter), -25% precipitation, and -50% precipitation) on the moist and dry meadow site in the floodplain at the Rhine River.

The plots were cut in June 2011 and 2012 (first cuts; for second cuts of all but ME and NEL see Fig 3 and S1 Fig). Response parameters are biomass (g m-2), XF = crude fibre (% in dw), XP = crude protein (% in dw), DE = digestible energy (MJ kg-1 dw), ME = metabolisable energy (MJ kg-1 dw), NEL = net energy for lactation (MJ kg-1 dw), fructan (% in dw) and N-, P-, K-contents (mg g-1 dw); dw = dry weight. Values are means (x) + SE; n = 3. The right column indicates differences between moist and dry sites within years. Only P-content differs between treatment groups at the dry site in 2011 (different letters indicating significant differences at pForage quality parameters of differently treated meadow plots (control, control +shelter), -25% precipitation, and -50% precipitation) on the moist and dry meadow site in the floodplain at the Rhine River.