At the national scale, the conditions that prevailed during the monitoring period (TEMP, -0.1°C and RADPAR, -4%) were largely average. Together with favorable rainfall (RAIN, +14%) they resulted in above average potential biomass (BIOMSS, +11%). TEMP was close to average everywhere, with the largest—but still moderate—departures occurring in the Loess region (+0.3°C) and in Northeast China (-0.4°C). RAIN was much higher than expected in the Inner Mongolia region (+57%), while the Lower Yangtze region and the Loess region respectively recorded increases of +33% and +14%. At the provincial level, high precipitation was recorded for Hebei (+46%) and Jiangxi (+46%). Almost all of the major agricultural areas of China suffered from low temperatures during late-July, late-August and late-October.

Figures 4.1-4.6 illustrate the distribution and profiles of rainfall (RAIN) and temperature (TEMP) indicators, as well as the fraction of cropped arable land (CALF), maximum vegetation condition index (VCIx), cropping intensity, and the minimum vegetation health index (VHIn). Indicator values are also provided in table 4.1.

High VCIx values occurred mostly in China’s southwest and in the Northeast region. Low VCIx values affected central and southeast China, particularly the center of Ningxia and the east of Gansu province. Crop condition in the northeast was above average, although agroclimatic conditions were just average. At the regional and provincial scales, BIOMSS was above average in the seven regions, especially in the Lower Yangtze (+16%) and Inner Mongolia (+33%) regions. At the provincial level, the highest values occurred in Fujian (+29%), Jiangxi (+25%), and Inner Mongolia (+29%). Low BIOMSS was only recorded for southwest China (-5%).

During the monitoring period, the cropped arable land fraction (CALF) overall remained stable in comparison with last 5 year average. For two of the seven monitored regions, CALF was about equal to the five-year average, while slightly negative values were recorded for the lower Yangtze region and Southern China (-1%). In the Loess region, CALF decreased by 5%, indicating that less arable land was cultivated. The uncropped arable land was mainly distributed in the center of Gansu and Shandong, east of Henan and Inner Mongolia. Cropping intensity increased by 5% in the Lower Yangtze region, but was average in Inner Mongolia; it decreased in the other five regions. Cropping intensity showed that single crops were mainly confined to Northeast China; double crops were located in the center of the country, while the three-season crops can only be grown in Southern China. Finally, the minimum VHI values indicate that almost all provinces in central and eastern China suffered from water stress, including southeast Henan, central Jiangsu, central Shanxi, and the east of Shandong (figure 4.6). Overall, China enjoyed crop conditions similar to last year's.

Figure 4.1. China spatial distribution of rainfall profiles

Figure 4.2. China spatial distribution of temperature profiles

Figure 4.3 China cropped and uncropped arable land, by pixel.       Figure 4.4 China Maximum Vegetation Condition Index (VCIx), by pixel.  

Figure 4.5 China Minimum Vegetation Condition Index (VCIx), by pixel.             Figure 4.6 China cropping intensity.

Table 4.1. CropWatch agroclimatic and agronomic indicators for China, July-October 2016, departure from 5YA and 15YA