162572 20251017144614.0 doi 10.3390/plants14142150 sideral 145118 ART-2025-145118 eng Jarne, Adrián Universidad de Zaragoza Assessing the Impact of Environmental and Management Variables on Mountain Meadow Yield and Feed Quality Using a Random Forest Model 2025 Access copy available to the general public Unrestricted Seasonal climate variability and agronomic management profoundly influence both the productivity and nutritive value of temperate hay meadows. We analyzed five years of data (2019, 2020, 2022–2024) from 15 meadows in the central Spanish Pyrenees to quantify how environmental variables (January–June minimum temperatures, rainfall), management variables (fertilization rates (N, P, K), livestock load, cutting date), and vegetation (plant biodiversity (Shannon index)) drive total biomass yield (kg ha−1), protein content (%), and Relative Feed Value (RFV). Using Random Forest regression with rigorous cross-validation, our yield model achieved an R2 of 0.802 (RMSE = 983.8 kg ha−1), the protein model an R2 of 0.786 (RMSE = 1.71%), and the RFV model an R2 of 0.718 (RMSE = 13.86). Variable importance analyses revealed that March rainfall was the dominant predictor of yield (importance = 0.430), reflecting the critical role of early-spring moisture in tiller establishment and canopy development. In contrast, cutting date exerted the greatest influence on protein (importance = 0.366) and RFV (importance = 0.344), underscoring the sensitivity of forage quality to harvest timing. Lower minimum temperatures—particularly in March and May—and moderate livestock densities (up to 1 LU) were also positively associated with enhanced protein and RFV, whereas higher biodiversity (Shannon ≥ 3) produced modest gains in feed quality without substantial yield penalties. These findings suggest that adaptive management—prioritizing soil moisture conservation in early spring, timely harvesting, balanced grazing intensity, and maintenance of plant diversity—can optimize both the quantity and quality of hay meadow biomass under variable climatic conditions. info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/GOP2024-000400 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess by https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.es info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Usón, Asunción Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-0139-0843 Reiné, Ramón Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-9990-571X 5011 705 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. CC.Agrar.y Medio Natural Área Producción Vegetal 14, 14 (2025), 2150 [22 p.] Plants 2223-7747 2828682 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/162572/files/texto_completo.pdf Versión publicada 2531251 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/162572/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon icon Versión publicada oai:zaguan.unizar.es:162572 articulos driver 2025-10-17-14:18:40 ARTICLE