Jatuporn Teanma¹, Yingluck Kanchanaroeak^2*, Apipong Putkham¹, Tawatchai Tanee^1,3, Angsuma Kanchak⁴, Metta Kengchuwong⁴, Ajchara Imkum Putkham⁵, Polpreecha Chidburee⁶, Piemjit Muangkot³

¹Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44150, Thailand

²College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Thammasat University, Lampang 52190, Thailand

³One Health Research Unit, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, 44150, Thailand

⁴Faculty of Science and Technology, Rajabhat Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44000, Thailand

⁵Faculty of Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand

⁶Faculty of Engineering, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand

 

*Corresponding author’s email: yinglukk@yahoo.com

Received: 13 June 2025 / Revised: 02 October 2025 / Accepted: 11 October 2025 / Published Online: 20 October 2025

 

Abstract

 

Shifting cultivation is often scrutinized for its environmental impacts, yet its role in providing ecosystem services remains poorly quantified. This study’s objective was to measure and compare key regulating services across a land-use gradient in highland Thailand, including monoculture maize, active cultivation (upland rice), 3-year fallow, and conservation forest. Field and laboratory experiments assessed soil erosion, gaseous pollutants, Particulate Matter with diameter of less than 2.5 μm (PM_2.5) emissions, and particulate capture capacity. Results reveal that monoculture maize demonstrated severe soil degradation, with high sediment in runoff (2.39 g/L) and poor water infiltration (94.75%). Conversely, the 3-year fallow plot showed significant recovery, with erosion dropping to 0.90 g/L and infiltration rising to 97.28%. Furthermore, while burning for cultivation releases particulates, the fallow landscape provides a powerful counter-service, with vegetation sequestering an average of 22.95 kg of suspended particulates per rai. This research provides clear quantitative evidence that traditional shifting cultivation, with adequate fallow periods, functions as a resilient system whose regulating services can mitigate its own disturbances. These findings challenge one-dimensional views of the practice and argue for land policies that recognize and integrate the profound ecological value of managed agro-ecosystems

 

Keywords: Shifting cultivation, Land-use planning, Regulating ecosystem services, Erosion control, Gaseous air pollutants

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