2.7 Central Europe to Western Russia

Harvesting of summer crops and sowing of winter crops was completed under warm (TEMP +0.7°C above average), very sunny (RADPAR, +6%) and dry weather (RAIN -4%).

Crop condition was generally average over the Central Europe to Western Russia MPZ, although there were some regional differences. As indicated by the rainfall profiles, rainfall was mostly above average at mid-July, especially in Poland, Belarus and the oblasts of western Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, Voronezh, Rostov, Volgograd and western Saratov in middle Russia with the peak of 45% above average precipitation. However, the southern part of the MPZ recorded a rainfall deficit in August and September, including Romania, Ukraine, Moldova, the oblasts of eastern Saratov, Samara, Orenburg, Ulyanovsk, Penza, Tambov, Lipetsk, Orlov and the Republics of Bashkortostan and Tatarstan in eastern Russia. At the end of October, rainfall in most regions increased to above average again (up to +30%), especially in southeastern Ukraine and southern Russia (Krays of  Krasnodar and Stavropol, Republics of Karachay-Cherkess, Kabardino-balkariya and North Ossetia-Alania, as well as southern Rostov Oblast)

Temperature profiles show more or less synchronized variations across the whole MPZ, with the exception of the western part (Poland, Romania, Moldova, western Belarus, western and middle Ukraine) during the first half and middle August. The highest temperature departure (4.3°C above average in early and mid-September) was recorded for eastern Belarus and Ukraine, and the Russian Oblasts of Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, Orlov, Lipetsk and Tambov.

The agroclimatic condition led to an average biomass potential development for the MPZ as a whole (BIOMSS, +2% compared to the five-year average) with a VCIx value of 0.82. The distribution map of the potential biomass, however, showed regional differences, including a large positive biomass departure (BIOMSS more than +20%) in western Belarus, northwestern and southeastern Ukraine, and most parts in southern Russia. In contrast, northern Poland, Romania, as well as the oblasts of eastern Saratov, Samara, western and eastern Orenburg, Ulyanovsk and Penza in Russia showed significant drops in potential biomass. 

Almost 93% of the arable land was actually cropped during the reporting period (with a CALF of 3% below average). Uncropped land concentrated in the oblasts of Volgograd, Astrakhan, southeastern Saratov and the  Kalmykia Republic.

The cropping intensity decreased by 2% compared to the recent five-year average. The double cropping area is mainly distributed in western Poland, southern Ukraine and southeastern Romania. Generally, with most parts indicating average crop conditions, prospects for crop production are  promising in the Central Europe to Western Russia MPZ.

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

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

Figure 2.6c. Central Europe-Western Russia MPZ maximum VCI, July-October 2018

Figure 2.6d. Central Europe-Western Russia MPZ cropped and uncropped arable land, July-October 2018

Figure 2.6e. Central Europe-Western Russia MPZ biomass accumulation potential departure, July-October 2018

Figure 2.6f. Central Europe-Western Russia MPZ VHI minimum, July-October 2018

Figure 2.6g. Central Europe-Western Russia MPZ cropping intensity, November 2017-October 2018