2.7 Central Europe to Western Russia

During the current monitoring period, most parts of the Central Europe to Western Russia MPZ presented favorable conditions of winter and summer crop (average VCIx=0.96). The whole MPZ experienced colder (TEMP 1.8°C below average), wetter (RAIN, +17%) and less sunny (RADPAR, -5%) than average weather. This provided good soil moisture but slowed down crop growth.

As indicated by the temperature profiles, lowest temperatures (5.5°C below average in May) affected especially the east part of the MPZ, which is west and south Russia. In Belarus and Poland, temperature dropped rapidly from early April (with more than 5°C below average at the end of the month), but then recovered to average in June. Rainfall profiles show that most parts of western Russia (accounting for most arable land in this area, including the Oblasts of Sverdlovskaya, Permskaya, Kirovskaya and the Bashkortostan Republic) received well above average rainfall from April to mid-July, with almost 45% above average rainfall in early July. In Belarus, Poland, Romania, and southern Ukraine, which together make up almost 40% of the MPZ, rainfall decreased from early May and stayed at an average or slightly below average level from May to June. 

Almost all of the arable land was actually cropped during the reporting period (with a CALF of +1 % over average). Due to the favorable moisture condition across the entire MPZ, the accumulated potential biomass (BIOMSS) is much above the five-year average (BIOMSS, +15%). However, most of Ukraine and Timis in Romania showed a drop (more than 20%) in BIOMSS, which is consistent with low VHIn values in central Ukraine. Most areas of the MPZ show maximum VCI values above 1, except Ukraine. Overall, with most parts indicating above average crop conditions and favorable agroclimatic factors, prospects for crop production are promising in Central Europe to Western Russia. 

Figure 2.6a. Spatial distribution of rainfall profiles (left) and profiles of rainfall departure from average (mm) (right), April-July 2017

Figure 2.6b. Spatial distribution of temperature profiles (left) and profiles of temperature departure from average (mm) (right), April-July 2017

Figure 2.6c. Maximum VCI, April-July 2017

Figure 2.6d. Cropped and uncropped arable land, April-July 2017

Figure 2.6e. Biomass accumulation potential departure, April-July 2017

Figure 2.6f. VHI minimum, April-July 2017