Romania presented above average crop condition during February to Mid-April (VCIx= 0.8), a period when winter wheat (to be harvest from July) is normally still dormant. The reporting period also covers the very beginning of summer crop planting, especially maize. Overall, temperature [TEMP] was above average (1.8C) with a rainfall (RAIN) anomaly of +38%, a positive biomass production potential (28%) and lower than average RADPAR (-5%).

As shown in the national crop condition development graph, NDVI rather closely followed or even exceeded the maximum of the previous five years from February to the end of the reporting period. In most parts of southern Romania, crop condition was average (VCIx 0.5 – 0.8) while the north-east and centre enjoyed above average condition (VCIx 0.8 – 1.0).  Crop condition is  more uncertain in some parts of the country, for instance in the south-east where VCIx is in the 0.5-0.8 range, and the NDVI profile was consistently and significantly above average since February, indicating crop growth during the period when the crop is normally dormant (about 10.6% of he cropped area).

The west (about 15.5% of cropland) had a marked drop of NDVI in late February. This is also the only area, along the Hungarian border (refer BIOMSS maps in chapter 2.6 and 2.7), where the biomass production potential shows low positive and negative departures from the recent average. Considering the rather unusual wintering conditions, the fact that CALF dropped 1% compared with average and that sunshine was generally low (-5%, as already mentioned), winter crop prospects are normal. Prospects are favourable for summer crops due to stored soil moisture.

Figure 3.26. Romania cropcondition, January-April 2016

(a)Crop condition development graph based on NDVI                                               (a) Maximum VCI

(c)Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA                                         (d) NDVI profile