During the monitoring period, the harvest of wheat and early rice was concluded. Spring maize reached maturity. In July, semi-late rice was in booting stage, and late rice was partially transplanted. According to the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, crop conditions were below the 5-year average in the early stage, but close to the average level at the end of the monitoring period.

For the whole region, although rainfall was below the 15YA (-12%), it still reached 1178mm, which is enough to meet the water requirement of crops. Radiation (+9%), temperature (+0.7°C), and BIOMSS (12%) were above average. As shown by the NDVI departure clustering map and the profiles, crop condition was below the 5-year average during most of the reporting period, especially in Guangxi and Guangdong due to the persistent drought. From April to early June, crop conditions were significantly lower than average. But at the end of the monitoring period, the overall NDVI in the region was close to the average level, probably due to the increased precipitation in late July after the harvest of early rice. Less rain and sufficient sunshine during the filling period were beneficial to the increase of rice yield, which led to an increase in BIOMSS. The average VCIx of the Southern China region was 0.92, and most of the area had VCIx values ranging from 0.80 to 1.00. Low VCIx values were mostly scattered in Yunnan and in central and southern parts of Guangdong. The cropped arable land fraction remained at the same level as in the last five years.

Overall, the crop conditions during the monitoring period tended to be normal.

Figure 4.17 Crop condition Southern China region, April 2021-July 2021

(a) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

(b) Time series rainfall profile

(c) Time series temperature profile

(d) Maximum VCI

(e) Potential biomass departure from 5YA

(f) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI     (g) NDVI profiles