No crops were cultivated from January to April in 2016 of Inner Mongolia due to the seasonally low temperatures. Along with gradually increasing temperatures, crops were starting to be sowed from late April. Considering the first four months of this year, rainfall indices were well above average (RAIN +163%) and PAR accumulation was about average; both of them resulted in a large potential biomass increase of 99% and record VCIx in most of areas. If favorable conditions will continue in the future and over the whole crop cycle, the outcome may be an exceptionally good season.

(a)Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

(b) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA

(d) Maximum VCI

(e) Biomass