2.7 Central Europe to Western Russia

This monitoring period covers the harvest period of summer crops and the sowing period of winter crops. In general, the agroclimatic indicators in this MPZ were close to average, with lower precipitation (-1%), higher temperature (+0.7°C), and lower RADPAR (-1%), as compared to the 15YA.

According to the spatial distribution map of rainfall departure, the precipitation in most areas of the MPZ fluctuated around the mean during the monitoring period. The spatial and temporal distribution characteristics were as follows:（1）In early July, precipitation within the MPZ was below average; in mid-July, 48.4% of the MPZ received significantly above-average precipitation, and 3.3% of the MPZ reached the highest distance level (+135mm). (2) From early August to early September, 48.4% of the MPZ received below-average precipitation, mainly in the northern and northeastern parts of the MPZ and in parts of southern Russia. (3) Above-average precipitation was observed in Russia, Belarus, northern Ukraine, and eastern Poland (71.1% of the MPZ) from early September to early October. (4) Southern and eastern Russia, southern Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, and Poland (28.9% of the MPZ) received below-average precipitation in early July to early August and late September to late October.

According to the average temperature departure map, temperatures in the MPZ varied significantly during this monitoring period. The specific spatial and temporal characteristics are as follows: (1) Between mid-July and early August, 33.9% of the MPZ had below-average temperatures, mainly in western Ukraine, Belarus, eastern Poland, northern Moldova, northwestern Russia, and parts of Romania. (2) Between mid-September and early October, 56.3% of the MPZ had above-average temperatures, mainly in the eastern part of the MPZ. (3) Temperatures in the MPZ were above average and reached a maximum departure of +6.0°C in late August, but were below average in early September.

The CropWatch agronomic indicators show that most of the arable land in the MPZ was planted, with a CALF value of 97%, and the uncultivated arable land was scattered mainly in southeastern Russia.The potential biomass in the MPZ was higher than the average of the last 5 years (1%).The areas with a 10% higher potential biomass were mainly located in most parts of Russia and eastern Ukraine. Affected by the persistent lack of precipitation since April and the high temperatures from June to August, areas with more than 20% lower potential biomass were mainly located in the south-western part of the MPZ, including Moldova, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and eastern Austria.

The VCIx showed a significant spatial difference in the MPZ, with an average value of 0.87. The regions below 0.8 were mainly located in south-eastern Russia, southern Ukraine, Moldova, eastern Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, and parts of Poland. The VHI minimum map shows that the severe drought areas were mainly in Southern Russia and southwestern part of the MPZ, where precipitation has been below average since April. Cropping intensity was 103%, which was 1% lower as compared to the five-year average across the MPZ.

Overall, CropWatch agroclimatic and agronomic indicators indicate that crop growth was expected to be slightly above average during this monitoring period.

Figure 2.6 Central Europe to Western Russia MPZ: Agroclimatic and agronomic indicators, July to October 2022

a.Spatial distribution of rainfall profiles                            b. Profiles of rainfall departure from average (mm)

c.Spatial distribution of temperature profiles                    d. Profiles of temperature departure from average (°C)

e. Biomass accumulation potential departure

f. Cropped arable land

g. Maximum VCI

h. VHI Minimum

i. Cropping intensity