This monitoring period (October 2019 to January 2020) covers the planting and early growth stages of winter wheat in Huanghuaihai.

Precipitation in this area increased by 37% from the average, temperature increased by 1.2℃, and photosynthetically active radiation decreased by 7%. Good climatic conditions caused a 7% increase in biomass over the average level and were beneficial to the growth of winter wheat. Favorable climatic conditions also advanced the development of winter crops before wintering as reflected by 10% above 5YA CALF. 

The NDVI profiles showed that crop growth in the Huanghuaihai region was slightly above average level for most of the monitoring period. There is some spatial variation of the crop growth conditions within this region. From mid to late October to January, NDVI anomalies in central and eastern Henan and northwestern Anhui were positive, whereas in the central and southern Jiaozhou Peninsula and northeastern Anhui Province they were negative, indicating that the crops in this area were in poorer condition. 

The maps of maximum VCI showed a similar trend to the spatial NDVI patterns. Overall, crop conditions in the Huanghuaihai region during the monitoring period were generally favorable, with an average VCIx of 0.91.

Figure 4.14. Crop condition China Huanghuaihai, October 2019 - January 2020

(a) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

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

(d) Maximum VCI

(e) Biomass