According to the NDVI-based crop condition development graph, the overall crop condition is slightly below average compared to the recent five-year average. The monitoring period covers the harvest of late rice and the planting of winter wheat. NDVI remained below average in October and the first half of November, then increased to average at the end of December, and finally reached even the five-year maximum level. Low radiation (RADPAR) (Fujian, -20%; Guangdong, -14%; and Guangxi,-11%) and high temperature (Fujian, +1.7°C; Guangdong, +1.0°C; Guangxi, +1.2°C; and Yunnan, +0.8°C) led to this partly below average situation. As a result, the general maximum VCI reached only 0.6 with the cropped arable land fraction (CALF) staying at the same level as the five-year average. 

Crop condition in central Guangdong deserves close monitoring due to its obvious below average condition during the whole period, with maximum VCI below 0.5; this is also reflected by the NDVI spatial patterns and profiles. Overall expectations for the forthcoming winter wheat, however, remain fair.

(a) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

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

(d) Maximum VCI

(e) Biomass