This reporting period covers the overwintering and spring green-up phases of the winter cereals. In late April, winter wheat and barley were at the late vegetative stages, and spring wheat and maize were being planted. Generally, the crop conditions in Germany were near average in most regions based on the agroclimatic and agronomic indicators.

The proportion of irrigated cropland in Germany is only 7% and agro-meteorological conditions play a decisive role in the growth of most crops. At the national level, temperatures and solar radiation were above average (TEMP +0.2°C; RADPAR +1%), whereas total precipitation was below average (RAIN -2%). As can be seen from the time series of the rainfall profile, precipitation was significantly below average during the monitoring period, with the exception of early January, early and mid-February, and early April when precipitation was significantly above average. Most of northern Germany experienced significant above-average temperatures throughout the monitoring period, except for early March and April, while most of southern Germany experienced warmer-than-usual conditions, except for the period in mid-January, late February, mid-early March and April (see Figure 2.5(c) and 2.5(d) ). Due to warmer-than-normal temperatures and clear skies, the biomass production potential (BIOMSS) is estimated to increase by 1% nationwide as compared to the average of the past 15 years.

CropWatch agronomic indicators based on NDVI development graph at the national scale show that NDVI values were close to average or below average due to snow cover in January, consistent with the previous monitoring period, and then back up to the average in February. They subsequently dropped to below average due to the precipitation deficit. These observations are confirmed by the clustered NDVI profiles: 28.5% of regional NDVI values were below average in late January. Subsequently, NDVI values were at average levels in almost 100% of the region in February, but then dropped to below average levels from mid-March to late-March. Overall VCIx for Germany was 0.91. CALF during the reporting period was the same as the recent five-year average. 

Generally, crop conditions were close to the 5-year average in most parts of Germany. High rainfall in early April helped increase soil moisture, but it is starting to get depleted, because of below-average rainfall in the last 2 decades of April. More rainfall will be needed in May and June to ensure high cereal yields

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.  

Schleswig-Holstein and the Baltic Coast are among the major winter wheat zones of Germany. The region experienced warmer weather (TEMP +0.8°C), above-average radiation (RADPAR +1%) and rainfall (RAIN +11%). As a result, BIOMSS is expected to increase by 5% as compared to the average. As shown in the crop condition development graph (NDVI), the values were significantly above average in the first part of this monitoring period, and then below average from early February to late April. The area has a high CALF (99%) as well as a favorable VCIx (0.97), indicating a large cropping area.

Wheat and sugarbeets are the major crops in the Mixed Wheat and Sugarbeet Zone of the Northwest. According to the CropWatch agroclimatic indicators, temperature was higher than average (TEMP +0.6°C), while rainfall and radiation were both above average (RAIN +7%; RADPAR +1%), which led to an increase in BIOMSS by 5%. As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were below average during the monitoring period, except for near average in early January and mid-February. The area has a high CALF (100%) and crop conditions for the region are favorable according to the high VCIx (0.89).

Central Wheat Zone of Saxony and Thuringia is another major winter wheat zone. RAIN was near average, and TEMP was above average (+0.2°C) but RADPAR was below average (-4%). The biomass potential (BIOMSS) was the same as the 15YA. As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were significantly below average in the first part of this monitoring period and remained below average from mid-March to late April. The area has a high CALF (99%) and the VCIx was 0.85 for this region.

Average to below-average precipitation was recorded in the East-German Lake and Heathland Sparse Crop Area (RAIN -4%). TEMP was above average (+0.3°C) but RADPAR was below average (-1%). The biomass potential (BIOMSS) was the same as the 15YA. As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were close to average in the first part of this monitoring period and were below average from early March to late April. The area has a high CALF (99%) and the VCIx was 0.88 for this region.

Crop conditions were favorable in the Western Sparse Crop Area of the Rhenish Massif. Average to above-average precipitation was recorded in this region (RAIN +4%), with above-average temperature and solar radiation (TEMP +0.3°C; RADPAR +1%). The biomass potential (BIOMSS) increased by 3% compared to the 15YA. As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were significantly below average in late January, and stayed below average from early March to mid-April. The VCIx value was 0.94 for the western areas.  The CALF was 100% for the regions.

On average, a significant reduction in rainfall was recorded for the Bavarian Plateau (RAIN -11%), with below-average temperature (-0.3°C) and above-average radiation (RADPAR +3%). Compared to the five-year average, BIOMSS decreased by 3%. As shown in the crop condition development graph based on NDVI, the values were significantly below average in late January, and stayed below average from early March to mid-April. The area had a high CALF (99%) as well as a favorable VCIx (0.93).

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

 (a) Phenology of major crops in Germany

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

(c) Maximum VCI for the January-April 2022 period

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

(e) Time series rainfall profile (left) and temperature profile (right) of Germany comparing the January-April 2022 period to the previous season and the fifteen-year average (15YA) and maximum

(f) 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)

(g) 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)

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

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

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

(k) 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,  January-April 2022

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