Modeling and analysis of maize agroecosystem dynamics with stresses

Abstract

Based on the Lotka–Volterra competitive equations, we developed a basic agroecosystem food web model using the corn agroecosystems of the U.S. Midwest as a case study. We present a dynamic model of a maize agroecosystem to quantify how various human management practices impact system stability and biodiversity. The model incorporates multiple populations and seasonal dynamics. We mathematically validated its stability and rationality through positive analysis, boundedness analysis, and periodic stability analysis. To investigate the effects of specific industrialized agricultural practices, we introduced the agricultural production cycle and chemical agents (insecticides and herbicides) into the model. We further assessed the pest control effect of introducing the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) on other components of the ecosystem. By analyzing the model-fitting results, we proposed a stability evaluation framework, a criterion for identifying beneficial species, and a threshold for determining the dominant inhibitory factors affecting corn. These tools allowed us to quantify the impact of each factor on the agroecosystem. Our findings indicate that specific industrialized agricultural practices significantly affect the modeled system, potentially reducing its biodiversity and ecological stability. In addition, we modelled the effects of chemical agents and bats on agricultural yields and ecosystem stability. These results provide a quantitative basis for optimizing sustainable agricultural management strategies.