Only winter crops were present in the field during the monitoring period, essentially in the north of the region, including parts in Henan, Anhui and Jiangsu Provinces.

According to the CropWatch agro-climatic indicators, temperature was slightly cooler than average (TEMP -0.4℃) and precipitation was just average (RAIN, +1%); sunshine, however,  was significantly below average (RADPAR -15%).

As shown in the NDVI development graph, crop condition was close to average before December when abnormally low values were probably brought about by snow. Although the biomass production potential increased 11% compared with the 5-year average, most of the northern wheat region of the AEZ suffered a significant decrease of BIOMSS (more than 20%) except in the East of Jiangsu and the West of Anhui Provinces.

The crop condition in the lower Yangtze region is currently assessed as average.

Figure 4.10a. China Lower Yangtze crop condition development graph based on NDVI, comparing to October 2018 to Janurary 2019 period to the previous season and the five-year average (5YA) and maximum

Figure 4.10b. China Lower Yangtze spatial NDVI patterns for October 2018 to Janurary 2019 (compared to the (5YA) (left) and (c) NDVI profiles associated with these spatial patterns (right)

Figure 4.10d. China Lower Yangtze maximum VCI, October 2018- Janurary 2019

Figure 4.10e. China Lower Yangtze biomass,October 2018-Janurary 2019