2.7 CENTRAL EUROPE TO WESTERN RUSSIA

During the present monitoring period, most parts of the Central Europe to Western Russia MPZ displayed average conditions of winter and summer crop (average VCIx=0.88). Compared to average, the MPZ was globally somewhat  warmer (TEMP +0.5°C), slightly drier (RAIN -3% ) and more sunny (RADPAR  4%). 

As indicated by the rainfall profiles, western Romania received well above average rainfall from May to June, with around 60mm above average in middle June. Another 22.5% of arable lands in the MPZ received over 50mm above average rainfall in July, including Poland, Belarus and the southern part of West Russia covering the following Oblasts: Kursk , Belgorod, Voronezh and Volgograd. The temperature profiles show that the lowest temperatures (about 4.8°C below average in late May) influenced mainly the eastern part of the MPZ, which is western Russia, including the Oblasts of Chelyabinsk, Orenburg, Samara and the Republics of Bashkortostan and Tatarstan. In Belarus, Poland, West Ukraine, Moldova and Romania, the temperature dropped by more than 3°C below average in late June, but then recovered to average in late July.

Almost all the arable land was cropped in the monitoring period (with a CALF of -1 % below average). Due to the average agroclimatic condition across the whole MPZ, the accumulated potential biomass (BIOMSS) is slightly (6%) below average, indicating an overall average level. However, Poland and some southern part of Western Russia (the Krays of Krasnodar and western Stavropol and the Rostov Oblast), showed a BIOMSS drop exceeding  20%, with low VHIn values, which should be paid attention to in the following months.

On the whole, with most parts indicating average crop conditions and agroclimatic factors, prospects for crop production are still promising in Central Europe to Western Russia.

Figure 2.6a. Central Europe-Western Russia MPZ spatial distribution of rainfall profiles (left) and profiles of rainfall departure from average (mm) (right), April-July 2018

Figure 2.6b. Central Europe-Western Russia MPZ spatial distribution of temperature profiles (left) and profiles of temperature departure from average (°C) (right), April-July 2018

Figure 2.6c. Central Europe-Western Russia MPZ maximum VCI  and cropped and uncropped arable land, April-July 2018

Figure 2.6e. Central Europe-Western Russia MPZ biomass accumulation potential departure and VHI minimum April-July 2018