In the Loess region, winter wheat was harvested from early to middle June, while summer maize had been planted gradually from late May to late June. Compared to the average, rainfall (RAIN) was 16% above average, radiation (RADPAR) dropped by 14%, and TEMP was about average. The potential biomass (BIOMASS) was 11% above the five-year average as a result of ample rainfall. Crop condition was mostly above the five-year average and last year’s level, except during early to middle April. The VCIx for the Loess region is 1.00, generally showing very good crop condition. The spatial NDVI clusters and profiles indicate that more than 90% of the areas had better crop condition than the average during the monitoring period. In general, crop condition was favorable except in some parts of central Gansu. The Cropped Arable Land Fraction (CALF) increased 13%, resulting in a favorable crop production outlook for the region, which was also confirmed by figure 4.3.

Figure 4.16. Crop condition China Loess region, April-July, 2018

(a) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI

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

(d) Maximum VCI                                              (e) Biomass