During the monitoring period, the harvest of wheat and early rice had been completed. Spring maize also reached maturity. In July, late rice was partially transplanted. The crop condition development graph based on NDVI showed that the crop conditions initially were better than the five-year average, but in May and June rapidly fell below the average level, and returned to the normal level at the end of the monitoring period.

For the whole region, although total rainfall was the same as the average, it was concentrated in May, June and early July, which hampered crop growth. Temperature was 22.5℃ (-0.1℃), slightly below the average, RADPAR was 3% higher. The biomass was 2% below average. CALF was the same as the average of the same period in the past 5 years, reflecting the overall normal condition of arable land utilization during this reporting period.

According to the NDVI departure clustering map and the profiles, values were close to average in most regions before May. Since mid-May, parts of Southern China have been hit by continuous heavy rainfall. Floods occurred in some regions of South China affecting farmland in low-lying areas. The continuous heavy precipitation resulted in poor crop conditions in those flooding areas. In July, with high temperature, less rainfall and more sunshine in most parts of the region, combined with sufficient precipitation in the early stages, the overall meteorological conditions were conducive for crop growth and NDVI in most regions of Southern China returned to average levels. The average VCIx of the Southern China region was 0.93, and most areas had VCIx values ranging from 0.80 to 1.00.

In general, crop condition in Southern China was slightly below average in some periods, it returned to normal at the end of the monitoring period.

Figure 4.12 Crop condition Southern China region, April - July 2022.

(a) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

(b) Time series rainfall profile

(c) Time series temperature profile

(d) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI  (e) NDVI profiles

(e) Maximum VCI

(f) Potential biomass departure from 5YA