The reporting period includes the harvest of the 2019-20 winter wheat (which started in July), the sowing of the 2020-21 winter wheat (which started in September) and also the harvesting of spring wheat, maize and other summer crops in September. Overall, crop conditions were fair. Rainfall was 16% lower than average; TEMP (+0.7°C) was above the 15YA, whereas RADPAR (-1%) and BIOMSS (-2%) were below average. The nationwide NDVI profile shows that crop conditions was a bit lower than average during July to early October and above average in late October. The temperature fluctuated around above average levels and rainfall was below average in August. The southeast suffered from drought conditions, which had started already in the previous reporting period. The CALF of Romania during the reporting period was 97%,  2% lower than average and the maximum VCIx was 0.86, which was fair.According to the spatial distribution of VCIx, the western and central subregion has higher values (0.8-1.0) than the eastern subregion (0.5-0.8). The NDVI pattern profile shows that regions marked with blue color located in the western and central maize, wheat and sugar beet plateau experienced a sharp decrease during July-October. NDVI was also far below average in the eastern and southern maize, wheat and sugar beet plain, shown in light green and red. Conditions improved in October, but all major summer crops grown in that region had reached maturity by then. These crops suffered from drought conditions, which had been observed already in the previous report. Hence, production prospects for this important region of Romania are unfavorable, while they are closer to normal for the other regions.

Regional analysis

More spatial detail is provided below for three main agro-ecological zones: Western and central maize, wheat and sugar beet plateau (106), the Central mixed farming and pasture Carpathian hills (104) and the Eastern and southern maize, wheat and sugar beet plains (105).

For the Western and central maize, wheat and sugar beet plateau, rainfall was higher than average by 45%, temperature was average and radiation were somewhat lower (TEMP +0℃, RADPAR -3%), and biomass decreased 4%, probably due to decrease in solar radiation. Spatial NDVI profiles show that crop condition was better than average during August to September. However, this period was the end of wheat growing, and the total biomass is less affected.  Maximum VCI of this region was 0.88, a bit low and the spatial distribution was between 0.8 and 1.0. Also the NDVI development decreased from July to October, consistent with the VCI values.The crop inensity is 102, -0.58 lower than last year.

For the Central mixed farming and pasture Carpathian hills, rainfall increased by as much as 27% above average while temperature and radiation were both up (TEMP +1℃ , RADPAR -2%) and BIOMSS decreased 1%. According to the NDVI development, crop condition was better than average during reporting period. The maximum VCI map shows values above 0.8 , with the regional average at 0.97. The NDVI spatial distribution shows that NDVI was fair throughout the reporting period. As this AEZ occupies only a small fraction of cropland in Romania, a small patch of irrigated land in Transylvania, its fair NDVI cannot represent much of Romania crop production.The crop inensity is 100, -2.34 lower than last year.

For the Eastern and Southern maize, wheat and sugar beet plains, rainfall decreased 9%, temperature increased 1℃, radiation remained average and biomass decreased 2%. The NDVI development graph shows that crop condition was worse than average during July to August and improved afterwards. The increase of precipitation in this period has partially mitigated the drought impact from previous periods, while current NDVI condition is still below average. VCI max value of this region was 0.80 and according to the distribution map, VCI values were between 0.5-0.8 in most of the central and middle region (counties of Tulcea and Constanta), representing about 14.3% of national cropland. The crop inensity is 105, -2.78 lower than last year.

Figure 3.38. Romania’s crop condition, July‐October 2019

(a). Phenology of major crops

(b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI  

(c) Maximum VCI

(d) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA      (e) NDVI profiles

(f) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Central mixed farming and pasture Carpathian hills (left) and Eastern and southern maize, wheat and sugarbeet plains (right))

(g) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Western and central maize, wheat and sugarbeet plateau)

(h) Time series rainfall pofile                     (i) Time series temperature pofile

(j) Crop intensity

Table 3.94. Romania’s agroclimatic indicators by sub‐national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, April ‐July 2020

Table 3.95. Romania’s agronomic indicators by sub‐national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA or 5YA, April ‐July 2020