During this monitoring period, only winter crops like wheat and rapeseed are in the field, essentially in Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu and Hubei provinces. According to the CropWatch agro-climatic indicators, Lower Yangtze experienced a wet winter. Temperature (TEMP -0.3℃) and sunshine (RADPAR -15%) were below average while precipitation was significantly above  (RAIN, +21%), which resulted in an increase of the biomass production potential by 8%. As shown in the NDVI development graph, crop condition was close to but slightly below average. The abnormally low values that occurred in February may be due to the effect of clouds. Although the biomass production potential increased, most of the northern wheat region of the lower Yangtze suffered a significant decrease of BIOMSS (more than 20%) including the west of Jiangsu, the middle of Anhui Provinces north of Hubei and South of Henan province.  According to the NDVI profile, the crop condition in the winter cropped area was slightly below average, including Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, and Hubei province, which is confirmed by the VCIx map. Overall, considering the favorable VCIx value of 0.93, the crop condition was assessed as close to but below average.

Figure 4.11. Crop condition Lower Yangtze region, 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) Biomass departure