The main summer crops in Inner Mongolia are maize and soybean, the condition of which was generally favorable during the reporting period. Rainfall was well above average (RAIN,+28%), temperature (TEMP) and radiation (RADPAR) were lower than average (-0.4°C and -2% respectively). Altogether, the region experienced a small potential biomass (BIOMSS) decrease of 4% compared to the recent five years. 

The NDVI development graph indicates good crop condition around June, close to the maximum of the last five years, which is confirmed by high maximum VCI values in whole region (average is 0.97). Only 12% of the region was below average, in particular central Inner Mongolia, north Hebei and West Liaoning which suffered from drought. Thereafter, general crop condition improved and reached—and sometimes exceeded—the maximum of the last five years from early July to early September. Favorable rainfall accelerated crop growth as clearly shown by above-average NDVI, which is confirmed by the spatial NDVI patterns and profiles in the area mentioned above. From late September,  crop condition became poor according to the spatial NDVI patterns and profiles in 18% of the region, scattered throughout the region.

The late below average condition had little influence on crop yields: from late September, the crops reached maturity and were ready to harvest.

Figure 4.7a. China Inner Mongolia crop condition development graph based on NDVI, comparing the current season up to October 2018 to the previous season, to the five-year average (5YA), and to the five-year maximum

Figure 4.7b. China Inner Mongolia spatial NDVI patterns for July to October 2018 (compared to the (5YA) (left) and (c) NDVI profiles associated with these spatial patterns (right)

Figure 4.7d China Inner Mongolia maximum VCI, July to October 2018

Figure 4.7e China Inner Mongolia biomass, July to October 2018