Optimal control of maize foliar diseases using the plants population dynamics

Abstract

Pathogens and insects can have important negative effects on yields of crops cultivated by humans. These effects can be important for the food security or financial well-being of individuals. In particular, maize is a very important staple crop worldwide and is vulnerable to diseases. We formulate here a mathematical model to evaluate the impacts of foliar diseases on the population dynamics of maize plants. Qualitative analyses of the important mathematical features of the model are carried out. We show how this methodology can be extended to reducing the spread of foliar diseases through effective control measures with minimum costs.