Abstract
The goal of this paper is to investigate how operations research techniques, specifically dynamic programming, can be applied to crop rotation decisions in agriculture. One major concern that farmers face is pests. This paper seeks to respond to this by solving optimization models that represent scenarios in which pests are present and pose a threat to potential yield. The final model discussed in this paper optimizes field crop rotations for five years in an ecosystem in which soybean cyst nematodes and soybean aphids are present. When aphids infest in the first and fourth years of our five year system, the optimal crop rotation is as follows: corn, susceptible soybean, corn, corn, susceptible soybean. A sensitivity analysis is then performed to help explain why this rotation is chosen.
Advisor
Ramsay, John
Department
Mathematics
Recommended Citation
Ferguson, Madeleine, "Optimizing Crop Rotations and Pest Management Strategies in Agriculture" (2020). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 9123.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/9123
Keywords
operations research, dynamic programming, agriculture, integrated pest management
Publication Date
2020
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2020 Madeleine Ferguson