The monitoring period covers the late harvesting stage of wheat in October; due to low winter temperature (the national average is -15.1°C) there are no winter crops in Mongolia.

Among the CropWatch agro-climatic indicators, RAIN was below average (-15%); RADPAR and TEMP were above average (1% and 1.6°C). The contribution of the ONDJ period to annual biomass accumulation (BIOMSS) is up 11% compared to average. As shown by the NDVI development graph, values were below average from October to early November and above average from late November to January late. Since Mongolia is a rather dry country with precipitation averages between 30 and 100 mm during the reporting period, snow is infrequent and NDVI can provide information about range-land condition and biomass.

Regional analysis

Of the five agro-ecological zones of Mongolia, three are covered in this bulletin; all are located in the non-Gobi northern half of the country. They are referred to (from central-west Mongolia to the East) as  Khangai Khuvsgul region (64 mm of average RAIN, -16.2°C average TEMP),  Selenge Onon region (averages: 85 mm, -14.7°C) and the Central and Eastern Steppe Region, the wettest and “warmest” of the three  (averages: 104 mm, -14.2°C).

NDVI was below the five year average from October to December and above average from November to January in the Khangai Khuvsgul region. It exceeded the five-year maximum from December to January. RAIN and RADPAR were above average (+10% and 1%) and TEMP was also above average (0.7°C). The combination of the factors resulted in high BIOMSS (+11%) compared to the five‐year average. The two southern AEZ, which are not described in detail, experienced above-average rainfall as well (+19% and +33%), which will favor rangeland development.

The Selenge Onon region recorded above average NDVI from November to January and above the five years maximum from December to January. Accumulated rainfall was below average (RAIN -16%) and RADPAR  and TEMP were above average (+1% and 1.9°C). The BIOMSS index increased by 15% compared to average.

In the Central and Eastern Steppe Region, NDVI was below the five year average in October and above the five-years maximum from late November to January late. RAIN was below average (-56%) and TEMP was well above average (2.8°C), while BIOMSS index decreased by 12%. Prospects form abundant range-land growth are less favorable than in the two other AEZs.

(a). Phenology of major crops 

(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI     (c)  Maximum VCI 

(d) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA                          (e) NDVI profiles

(f) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI Hangai Khuvsgul Region (left), and Selenge‐Onon Region (right)) 

(g) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI Central and Eastern Steppe Region (left), and Altai Region (right)) 

(h) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI  (Gobi Desert Region) 

Table 3.76. Mongolia’s agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, October 2018 - January 2019

Table 3.77. Mongolia’s agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 5YA, October 2018 - January 2019