OK: 03:51:28 CST Thursday, 15 February 2018

Crop condition in Huanghuaihai was generally below the recent five-year average. The main crop during the monitoring period is winter wheat - currently overwintering -, which was planted in early October after the harvesting of summer maize. The crop condition development graph based on NDVI, generally below the five-year average during the entire period, especially in January. Winter wheat suffered from excess precipitation:RAIN  was 43% above average. While temperature was average (TEMP +0.3℃ above average), RADPAR was significantly below reference values (-14%). The abundant precipitation will benefit what when it will break dormancy in spring. The BIOMSS index increased 36% above average.

Regarding spatial distribution, many scattered areas over the region display below average condition, especially in the south. Eastern Henan and Northern Anhui were well below the average throughout the period. In other areas, indices fluctuated around the average and decreased sharply in January. The situation is also confirmed by the VCIx map.  The low NDVI and VCIx resultsfrom snow cover in wheat field in southeastern Henan and northern Anhui. Positivecrop condition and yield perspectives are given considering sufficient soil moistureafter heavy snow. 

Figure 4.14a. Huanghuaihai crop condition development graph based on NDVI, comparing the current season up to January 2018 to the previous season, to the five-year average (5YA), and to the five-year maximum

Figure 4.14b. Huanghuaihai spatial NDVI patterns for October 2017 to January 2018 (compared to the (5YA) (left) and NDVI profiles associated with these spatial patterns (right)

Figure 4.14c. Huanghuaihai maximum VCI, October 2017-January 2018

Figure 4.14d. Huanghuaihai biomass, October 2017-January 2018