This reporting period mainly covers the planting of early rice and the growing season of winter wheat in Southern China. Crop condition was mixed, with condition generally above average between January and February, then below average from March to April—possibly due to heavy rain and low temperature, and average again at the end of April. For the period as a whole, rainfall was almost double the average (RAIN, +99%), while the temperature departure was negative (TEMP, -1.1°C). Parts of southern Fujian and southern Guangxi provinces showed below average crop condition in March and April according to the spatial NDVI patterns. This was brought about by the excess rain (+96% in Guangxi and +85% in Fujian), and the area will need close monitoring. Furthermore, southern Yunnan and southern Guangdong shows a mix of average and anomalous climate variables: in Yunnan, rain was below (-10%) and TEMP and RADPAR were relatively low (-1°C and -8%, respectively); in Guangdong, rainfall and TEMP were  average (RAIN, 0% and TEMP, 0%), while RADPAR wsa below average ( -6%). Southern Yunnan and Guangxi also showed a significant drop in the biomass production potential (BIOMSS, -20%), further underlining the need for continued close monitoring. The excess precipitation is likely to negatively influence the current winter crops. Summer crops are likely to benefit from abundant soil moisture.

Figure 4.15. Crop condition Southern China region, January-April 2016

(a) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

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

(d) Maximum VCI

(e) Biomass