Winter wheat is the main crop that is grown in Romania during this reporting period. It was sown in late October. At the national level, rainfall was slightly above average (RAIN +11%); average temperature was a bit lower (-0.6℃) and radiation was also slightly below average (-2%). This resulted in a reduced estimate of biomass (-3%), as compared to the 15YA. CALF decreased by 2% and maximum VCI was at 0.85. According to the NDVI at the country level, crop conditions were below average in late March and April, which was consistent with the below-average temperatures during this period. However, NDVI caught up with the 5YA in most regions by late April. Crop conditions were generally favorable.

Regional analysis

More spatial detail is provided below for three main agro‐ecological zones: the Central mixed farming and pasture Carpathian hills (160), the Eastern and southern maize, wheat and sugar beet plains (161) and the Western and central maize, wheat and sugar beet plateau (162).

For the Central mixed farming and pasture Carpathian hills, compared to the 15YA, rainfall had increased by 14%, whereas temperature  and radiation  were lower (TEMP -1°C and RADPAR -2%). According to the NDVI development, crop conditions were better than average in January and February but lower than average in March and April. The regional average VCI maximum was at 0.80. The NDVI spatial distribution shows that the NDVI was trending below average in March to April. As the central mixed farming and pasture Carpathian hills occupy only a small fraction of cropland in Romania, this region's low NDVI is not significant for Romania's crop production.

For the Eastern and Southern maize, wheat and sugar beet plains, rainfall increased by 10%, temperature remained average, radiation decreased by 2% and biomass increased by 1% as compared to the 15YA. The NDVI development graph shows that crop condition dropped to below average after March, but recovered to average levels by late April. The VCI max value of this region was 0.88 and according to the distribution map, the deep green and red line shows that VCI values were decreasing in March in most of the central and middle region, especially in the southeast area of this sub-region (counties of Tulcea and Constanta), representing about 14.3% of the national cropland. They indicate slightly unfavorable crop conditions.

For the Western and central maize, wheat and sugar beet plateau, rainfall was higher than average by 8%, temperature and radiation were somewhat lower (TEMP -1℃, RADPAR -2%) and biomass decreased by 7%.  Maximum VCI of this region was 0.78 and the spatial distribution was between 0.5 and 0.8 near the middle region.  NDVI dropped below the 5YA starting in mid-March.

Overall, the cooler-than-normal temperatures slowed crop growth in March and early April. However, above-average rainfall promises favorable conditions for the grainfilling period of winter cereals. 

Figure 3.37 Romania's crop condition, January – April 2021

(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 sugar beet plains (right))

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

(h) Rainfall index 

(i) Temperature index

Table 3.65 Romania's agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, January – April 2021

Table 3.66 Romania's agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 5YA, January – April 2021