Winter wheat was harvested from early to mid June, while summer maize was planted from  late May to late June. Compared to the average, rainfall (RAIN) was 15% below, radiation (RADPAR) dropped by 2%, and TEMP was down 0.2℃. The potential biomass (BIOMASS) was 1% below average as a result of reduced rainfall. Crop condition was consistently below the five‐year average and last year’s level. The VCIx for the Loess region is still fair at  0.85. The spatial NDVI clusters and profiles indicate that only 26.7% of the areas had better crop condition than the average during the monitoring period. The areas that suffered from poor crop condition include western and central Shanxi, and central Shaanxi. Although the Cropped Arable Land Fraction (CALF) increased 9%, the agro-climatic conditions were not favorable in this region. The final outcome of the season will depend on weather during the JASO reporting period.

Figure 4.11 Crop condition of Loess region, April to July 2019

(a) Time series rainfall profile                           (b)Time series temperature profile

(c) Time series radiation profile

(d) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

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

(g) Maximum VCI                                               (h) Biomass