After winter wheat sowing in October 2013 in Huanghuaihairegion, the crop was initially negatively affected by dry weather: comparedwith the 2001-13 (twelve-year) average, rainfall and biomass decreased, whiletemperature and PAR were above average. In early November, enough rainfall andmoderate temperature promoted the growth of crops; by the end of January 2014,crop condition was better than that of the last year and recent five-yearaverage. The profiles of NDVI clusters are mostly above average, except for theregions in central Shandong where maximum VCI is low (as shown in figure (e)).The uncropped arable land ratio decreased by 2.5 percentage points, indicatingan increased winter wheat area. Maximum VCI was 1 percentage point higher thanthe average of the previous five years.

Figure4.6. Crop condition China Huanghuaihai region