This reporting period runs from January to April 2022. It covers the growing season for the winter cereals, which includes the tillering, green-up, jointing and heading periods. Overall, crop conditions were poor due to drought in the main winter wheat producing areas.

As a whole, agroclimatic conditions were average during this reporting period, with rainfall and temperature 1% and 0.5°C below average, respectively, while radiation was 2% above average. The spatial distribution of rainfall indicates below-average rainfall in the main winter wheat producing areas since late March, while on the contrary, the temperature profiles indicate a significant warming during the same period. March-April is a critical growing period for winter wheat and the crop's water demand increases. Below-average rainfall and warming trends increase soil moisture loss and are detrimental to the growth of winter wheat. The potential biomass is 20% below average in the major winter wheat producing zones. The warming and dry weather led to severe drought in the main winter wheat producing areas, and the minimum vegetation index captured moderate and severe drought in the main winter wheat producing areas. The maximum vegetation index below 0.5 reflects poor crop conditions in the region. Compared to the recent five years, cropped area land fraction is 15% below average.

In short, CropWatch assessed crop growth for this monitoring period as below average. This period is a critical growth stage for winter wheat, below average production could be expected due to drought-reduced acreage.

(a). Spatial distribution of temperature profiles

(b). Spatial distribution of rainfall profiles

(c). VHI Minimum

(d). Maximum VCI

(e). Potential biomass departure from 5YA

(f). Cropped and uncropped arable land