Soil Conditions Rated Favorably In Much Of China
By Andrew Owen
Kansas City, August 11 (World Weather Inc.) – Other than periods of flooding in portions of the Yangtze River Basin and Liaoning in July, weather conditions in China have been favorable in recent weeks. Warm weather and timely rain promoted aggressive growth conditions for much of the production region. Crops will continue to grow under generally good conditions through
the end of next week in most locations as well. Drier weather will be needed for portions of southern China and the Yangtze River Basin later in August and beginning of September once early season crops are maturing and ready for harvest.
Soil moisture is rated adequate to excessive in much of China. Portions of Shanxi, Shaanxi, Jilin, and Heilongjiang have a minor shortage of moisture in the topsoil while subsoil moisture is rated adequately. Several areas from Yunnan and Sichuan through Guizhou and Hubei are abundantly wet in the topsoil and would welcome drier conditions. Portions of Shandong and immediate neighboring areas, along with pockets of Guangdong and Fujian, are also excessively wet.
Production cuts were noted in portions of the Yangtze River Basin early July when torrential rainfall occurred causing some of the worst flooding since 1998. A complete assessment of the damage is not available, but rice, soybeans, groundnuts, corn, sorghum and cotton are in the region. Portions of Liaoning and neighboring areas also lost production potentials due to flooding at the end of July. The impacted region in northern China produces spring wheat, corn, soybeans, and other crops. Most other crops in China have experienced fine weather this season with good yields expected due to timely rainfall and seasonable temperatures.
Rainfall will vary across China during the next seven days. The southernmost provinces will see a good mix 
of rain and sunshine that will help keep soil moisture rated adequate to excessive. Rain totals through next Thursday morning will range from 1.00 to 5.00 inches with locally greater amounts. Crop growth will advance swiftly, though drier weather is still needed for the maturing crops.
The Yellow and Yangtze River Basins will see varying amounts of rain through the latter part of next week. Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and neighboring areas in the east will receive little or no rain while areas further west see a good mix of rain and sunshine. The lack of rain in eastern areas will not have much impact for a while because of adequate subsoil moisture. Crop development and maturation conditions will be favorable across the region.
Northeastern China will also see a good mix of rain and sunshine during the coming week. The rain will not be enough to significantly impact soil moisture, but drying rates will often be slowed. Crops will continue to grow under generally favorable conditions.
Portions of the North China Plain will be wetter than normal through the latter part of next week. Portions of Hebei, northern Shandong, Shanxi, and neighboring areas in Inner Mongolia will receive 2.00 to 7.00 inches of rain by next Thursday morning. Some flooding is expected in the wetter biased locations of Shandong and Hebei, although the rain will be spread out enough over the course of the coming week to limit flooding in most locations. Damage to crops is expected to be minimal. Development conditions will otherwise remain favorable in much of the North China Plain.
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