Due to the cold weather in North-east China during the current monitoring season, there is no crop growing in the field, as indicated by low NDVI values in the crop development profile. The farmers start land preparation and sowing of spring crops in late April, including wheat, maize and soybean. Weather conditions so far were dry (RAIN -28%) and warm (TEMP +3°C) , which has reduced soil moisture storage and reduced the  biomass production potential by -12% on average, with larger reductions in the east of the region.

Initial growing conditions are thus less than optimal as insufficient water supply may hamper the sowing, germination and early growth  of the spring planted. CropWatch will keep tracking the agroclimatic and agronomic conditions in the future months.

Figure 4.7. Crop condition China Northeastregion, January - April 2019

(a) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

 (b) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA   (c) NDVI profiles

(d) Maximum VCI                (e) Potential biomass departure from 5YA