In Poland this monitoring period witnessed the harvest of maize (beforeOctober) and the sowing of winter wheat. The cropped arable land fraction(CALF) was 3% below average. From October to January, the weather conditionsimproved from dry and cold conditions during the previous monitoring period.The rainfall departure was 1% and the temperature increased 0.2°C above average.RADPAR was average and the potential biomass was above average due tofavourable weather conditions (Figure 3.25).

As shown in the NDVI condition development graph, due to the delayedsowing of winter wheat, the NDVI in October was lower than the five-yearaverage and then significantly above average from November. This phenomenon ismost apparent in the east of Poland, including Lubeiskie, Mazowieckie andPodlaskie.

In most other parts of Poland, NDVI was lower than average, especiallyin Dolnoslaskie and Opolskie.The VCIx in Poland during this monitoring periodis 0.81.

Due to the unusual weather condition in Poland last summer, the outlookfor the winter crop is cautiously optimistic.  

Figure3.25. Poland crop condition, October2015-January 2016

(a)Crop condition development graph based on NDVI                           (b)Maximum VCI

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