Due to the cold winter weather, no crops were grown in the northeast of China during this monitoring season (January to April 2020). Accordingly, the NDVI growth curve showed low values. CropWatch Agroclimatic Indicators (CWAIs) have shown that the precipitation and temperature greatly deviated from the average level. The overall precipitation increased by 10%, and the precipitation was above average level in mid-February, late February, mid-March and mid-April. The photosynthetically active radiation decreased by 4%, and temperature increased by about 1.8°C. The temperatures were close to average levels in mid-March, late March and early April. Altogether, the potential biomass was 3% below the fifteen-year average level.  

Overall, higher precipitation and warmer temperatures are beneficial to spring sowing. A short period of cold weather in late April in the northern part (Heilongjiang Province) of northeast China may have caused a slight delay of sowing. CropWatch will continue to monitor the Northeast in the coming months. 

Figure 4.10 Crop condition China Northeast region, January - April 2020

(a) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

(b) Spatial distribution of NDVI profiles

(c) Time series rainfall profile

(d) Time series temperature profile

(e) Maximum VCI

(f) Potential biomass departure from 15YA