Progress in detecting and mapping crop diseases, with particular reference to maize using remote sensing.

Abstract Disease infection on crops has been increasing over the years, in line with the changing climate, which has provided a conducive environment for disease proliferation. Timely and up-to-date information on disease spread and its magnitude is a critical component of crop management. This study provides a detailed overview on the role of remote sensing in crop disease detection and mapping with particular reference to the implication on maize, a staple food for many countries in the Global South. Studies have shown the capability of various remote sensing approaches in detecting the severity of disease infection. Most studies undertaken focused on disease classification, with hyperspectral data demonstrating satisfactory performance in detecting the early stages of disease infection. Thermal remote sensing has great potential but remains largely unexplored and very few studies have focused on the application of remote sensing on maize crop diseases in different environments. With new developments on unmanned aerial vehicles (AUVs), there is a great potential to mount sensors with useful information for precise crop disease monitoring and the large size and architecture of maize leaves provide opportunities for early detection with high-resolution remotely sensed data.