The overall condition of crops was partly below average in SouthwestChina between July and October (figure 4.15). The period coincides with theregion’s harvest season for maize and single cropped rice and the plantingseason for winter wheat. NDVI profiles were below average in July, somewhatrecovered at the beginning of August, and then fell below average again inSeptember. Since then, crops recovered a reached a level close to the five-yearaverage in October.

The following regions should be paid attention to: south-western Hubei,north-western Hunan and south-eastern Chongqing because of poor potentialbiomass accumulation. CropWatch found below average precipitation in Chongqing(-11%) and Hubei (-31%), which will have a negative impact on the cropcondition. The spatial NDVI patterns and profiles also show below averagecondition in the regions mentioned above during August and September. HoweverCALF and cropping intensity in remained average during the monitoring period.

Figure4.15. Crop condition Southwest China region, July-October 2015

(a)Crop condition development graph based on ND

(b)Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA                                         (c) NDVI profi

(d) Maximum VCI                                                                         (e) Biomass