Winter wheat began vegetative growth and winter dormancy after being sown from October. The overall condition of the crop just fair (VCIx = 0.76). Rainfall was much higher than average (+35%) and temperature and sunshine were close to average (TEMP +0.3°C, RADPAR +1%). Biomass show betters condition (BIOMSS +18%) while CALF dropped dramatically by 35%. The low CALF indicates below average production prospects due to reduced hectarage. 

The nationwide NDVI development graph indicates that crop growth was below average during the reporting period, which is consistent with the decreased CALF and low VCIx.

According to the spatial NDVI profiles, rather low NDVI (0.2 units or more below average) prevailed in 13.3% of cropped areas,  mostly in the area referred to below as the Eastern and southern maize, wheat and sugar beet plains.

Regional analysis

More detail is provided below for three main agro-ecological zones (AEZ) of the country. They include the Central mixed farming and pasture Carpathian hills; the Eastern and southern maize, wheat and sugar beet plains; the Western and central maize, wheat and sugar beet plateau. 

In the Eastern and southern maize, wheat and sugar beet plains rainfall increased 3% over average, temperature was up 0.7°C and the sunshine departure was +2%. However, CALF was -15% below the 5YA  and the VCIx was low (0.75).

The Western and central maize, wheat and sugar beet plateau had a much larger positive rainfall anomaly (+24%), a temperature increase above average of nearly one degree (0.9°C) and sunshine up 5%. As a result, the biomass potential of this region increased 8%. CALF was somewhat lower than average (-4%). Similar to the Eastern and southern maize, wheat and sugar beet plains, VCIx was low in this region (0.79) but nevertheless the highest in the country.

As for the Central mixed farming and pasture Carpathian hills, the increase in BIOMSS (+8%) was beneficial to pasture development, as were the moderate rainfall increase (+15% above average), sunshine (+4%) and temperature (+0.7°C). CALF dropped 7% and the VCIx was the lowest in the country (0.73).

Generally, crop condition is just average or below and planted area was well below average. Only about 14.1% of cropland experienced consistently average conditions including the counties of  Tulcea and Constanta on the Black Sea; parts of Dolj, Olt and Teleorman in the south and parts of Timis and Caras-Severin in the west. The final outcome of the season will be largely conditioned by agroclimatic conditions in May but a favorable winter wheat season remains unlikely.

Figure 3.38. Romania’s crop condition, January-April 2019

(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 (Central mixed farming and pasture Carpathian hills (left) and Eastern and southernmaize, wheat and sugarbeet plains (right)) 

(g) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Western and central maize, wheat and sugarbeet plateau) 

Table 3.77. Romania’s agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departurefrom 15YA, January-April 2019

Table 3.78. Romania’s agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departurefrom 5YA, January-April 2019