Maize was harvested in late September and early October, and winter wheat has been planted at the end of the monitoring period. According to the NDVI development graph, crops started maturing from August to early September, after which they were harvested from mid-September to the end of the monitoring period.

The temperature was average while precipitation was below average ( RAIN -6%). Slightly above average radiation (RADPAR +2%) resulted in potential biomass production (BIOMSS) being above average as well (2%). In most of the area, the analyses based on spatial NDVI clusters and profiles are consistent with VCIx. The most favorable crop condition (compared to the five-year average) occurred mainly in the southern part of Ningxia, most of Gansu, the south-central part of Shaanxi and some regions in the South-west and North-east of Shanxi, and in western of Henan from July to October. In contrast, because of drought during the monitoring period (as confirmed by the maps of potential biomass)—crops were in inauspicious condition in north-east Shaanxi and central Shanxi.

Altogether, with the cropped arable land fraction (CALF) up 9% compared with recent years, the crop production outlook for the region is positive.

a. Crop condition development graph based on NDVI_China Loess region

b. Spatial distribution of NDVI profiles

c. Maximum VCI

d. Potential biomass departure from 5YA