Germany

The monitoring period covers the late stages of sugar beets, which got harvested in October and November, and the sowing period of winter cereals which started in September. Adequate soil moisture, neither too wet nor too dry, is crucial for the germination and early establishment of the winter cereals, mostly wheat, barley and triticale. Based on the agroclimatic and agronomic indicators, the crop conditions in Germany were generally below or close to the 5-year average in most regions. 

CropWatch agroclimatic indicators show that total precipitation was below average (RAIN -15%), both temperature and radiation were close to the average of the past 15 years. As can be seen from the time series of the rainfall profile, Germany experienced below-average precipitation until late October; then above-average precipitation from November to early-December except for mid-November and mid-December; and then below-average again in mid to late January. Most of the country experienced average temperature conditions during the monitoring period, except for early and late November and early December, which were significantly below average, mid-December, and early and late January, which were significantly above average. Due to a combination of precipitation deficit and average temperature and sunshine conditions, the biomass accumulation potential (BIOMSS) decreased by 1% at the nationwide level as compared to the 15YA. Persistent precipitation deficit in most areas in the early part of the monitoring period was good for summer crop harvesting in Germany, while the germination of the winter cereals was delayed in some parts of the country. 

CropWatch agronomic indicators based on NDVI development graph at the national scale show that NDVI values were above average, even close to the 5-year maximum level in early October, and then below average from mid-October to mid-November due to a precipitation deficit in that period. Subsequent drops in NDVI can be attributed to either fog, cloud cover or snow on the ground. These factors also caused large negative departures in the spatial NDVI profiles. The above average temperatures in January caused the increase to average or even above average NDVI levels in that month. These observations were also confirmed by VCI values in the spatial distribution of maximum VCI map. It reached 0.96 at the national scale. 

Overall, crop conditions were close to the 5-year average in most parts of Germany by the end of this monitoring period.

Regional analysis

Based on cropping systems, climatic zones, and topographic conditions, six sub-national agro-ecological regions are adopted for Germany. They include: the Wheat Zone of Schleswig-Holstein and the Baltic coast, Mixed Wheat and Sugar beet Zone of the Northwest, Central Wheat Zone of Saxony and Thuringia, Sparse Crop Area of the East-German Lake and Heathland area, Western Sparse Crop Area of the Rhenish Massif and the Bavarian Plateau.  

The large negative NDVI departures that were observed for all regions in November and December are artifacts, due to cloud cover, fog or snow. 

Schleswig-Holstein and the Baltic coast is the major winter wheat zone of Germany. Compared to the past 15 years' average, the CropWatch agroclimatic indicators RAIN (+2%) and temperature (TEMP, +0.7°C) were above average, while radiation (RADPAR, -2%) was below average. Due to favorable precipitation and temperature, biomass (BIOMSS) was increased by 4%. As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were above average or even close to the 5-year maximum in early-October, and below average from mid-October to December. The area had a high CALF (100%) as well as a favorable VCIx (1.01) indicating favorable crop prospects.

Wheat and sugar-beets are major crops in the Mixed wheat and sugar-beets zone of the north-west. RAIN (-14%) was significantly below average and radiation (RADPAR, -4%) was also below average, while temperature (TEMP, +0.4°C) was above average. Due to suitable temperatures and adequate precipitation conditions during late October, late November to early December and late December to late January, biomass (BIOMSS) was 2% above average. As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were above the 5 year maximum in early-October, and then average between mid-late October and November. They recovered to average levels  in January.  The area had a high CALF (100%) as well as a favorable VCIx (0.98).

The Central wheat zone of Saxony and Thuringia is another major winter wheat zone; The CropWatch agroclimatic indicator show that this region experienced a precipitation deficit (-13%) with slightly warmer weather (TEMP, +0.1°C)  and radiation below average  (RADPAR, -1%) which lead to average biomass (BIOMSS). As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were above average only in early-October. The area has a high CALF (100%) as well as a favorable VCIx (0.91).

The East-German Lake and Heathland sparse crop area experienced a rainfall deficit (RAIN, -7%) but with above average temperature (TEMP, +0.1°C) and radiation (RADPAR, +1%). Suitable temperature and sunshine conditions contributed to a 1% increase in biomass (BIOMSS). NDVI values were above the 5-year maximum in early-October. The area had a high CALF (100%) and a high VCIx (0.93). 

The cropland in the Western sparse crop area of the Rhenish massif experienced below average rainfall  (RAIN -13%) and temperature (TEMP -0.2°C), while radiation (RADPAR, 0%) was average, which led to a biomass (BIOMSS) decrease by 3%. As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the NDVI values and crop condition was close to the 5-year maximum from October to mid-November. The area had high CALF (100%) and a high VCIx (1.01).

Dry weather was recorded in the Bavarian Plateau (RAIN, -23%), with below average temperatures (-0.6°C).  The persistent precipitation deficit in the early part of the monitoring period led to a BIOMSS decrease by 7% compared to the average of the past 15 years. The area had a high CALF (100%) as well as a favorable VCIx (0.95). As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were only close to the 5-year average before mid-October, late December and early January.

Figure 3.13. Germany’s crop condition, October 2021-January 2022

Figure 3.13a. Phenology of major crops in Germany

Figure 3.13b. Crop condition development graph based on NDVI, comparing the October 2021-January 2022 period to the previous season and the five-year average (5YA) and maximum

Figure 3.13c. Maximum VCI for the October 2021-January 2022 period

Figure 3.13d. Spatial NDVI patterns for Germany up to January 2022 according to local cropping patterns and as compared to the 5YA (left) and (e) associated NDVI profiles (right)

Figure 3.13e. Proportion of VHIn categories compared with 5YA in Germany

Figure 3.13f. Time series rainfall profile (left) and temperature profile (right) of Germany comparing the October 2021-January 2022 period to the previous season and the five-year average (5YA) and maximum

Figure 3.13g. Wheat zone of Schleswig-Holstein and the Baltic Coast crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profiles (middle) and temperature (right)

Figure 3.13h. Mixed wheat and sugarbeets zone of the north-west crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profiles (middle) and temperature (right)

Figure 3.13i. Central wheat zone of Saxony and Thuringia crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profiles (middle) and temperature (right)

Figure 3.13j. East-German lake and Heathland sparse crop area crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profile (middle) and  temperature (right)

Figure 3.13k. Western sparse crop area of the Rhenish massif crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profile (middle) and temperature (right)

Figure 3.13l. Bavarian Plateau crop condition development graph based on NDVI (left), time series rainfall profile (middle) and temperature (right)

Table 3.17. Germany agro-climatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA,  October 2021-January 2022

Table 3.18. Germany agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's value and departure from 5YA,  October 2021-January 2022