During the monitoring period, it wasn’t in the planting cycle for maize, while winter wheat was in the hibernating period.From the beginning of October to early-December, crop condition was inferior to last year’s and below the five-year average. Reversely, crop condition was superior to last year’s and above the five-year average from mid-December to the end of the monitoring period. Radiation (RADPAR, -9%) was below average, temperature(TEMP, +1.3℃) was above average, and precipitation (RAIN, +121%) was far above average, which gave rise to potential biomass (BIOMSS) to be far above average(+101%) due to the agreeable conditions.

In most of the area, the analyses based on spatial NDVI clusters and profiles are consistent with VCIx. The most favorable conditions occurred mainly in the north of Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces and in the east of Gansu province, due to the abundant rainfall and suitable sunlight.On the contrary—and mostly because of drought during the monitoring period (as confirmed by the maps of potential biomass)—crops were in poor condition in the middle of Gansu and Shaanxi provinces and in the east of Shanxi province. The crop condition in some areas seemed above average from mid-December to the end of the monitoring period, which may be as a result of the crop’s rapid growing period from the perspective of Phenology. 

Figure 4.16. Crop condition China Loess region, Oct 2016 - January 2017

(a) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

(b) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA           (c) NDVI profiles

(d) Maximum VCI                                                           (e) Biomass