Objective The study aims to empirically investigate the impact and mechanism of digital literacy on farmers' green utilization behavior of cultivated land, providing theoretical support and empirical evidence for strengthening the ‘trinity’ protection (quantity quality and ecology) of cultivated land and promoting agricultural green development. Methods Based on theoretical analysis, research hypotheses were proposed. Using data from the 2020 China Rural Revitalization Comprehensive Survey, econometric models were employed to empirically analyze the influence of digital literacy on farmers' green utilization behavior of cultivated land and its mechanism. Results (1) Digital literacy had a significant positive effect on farmers' green utilization behavior of cultivated land, and this result remained valid after multiple robustness tests. (2) The positive effect of digital literacy exhibited group heterogeneity. Specifically, digital literacy did not significantly promote green utilization behavior of cultivated land among small-scale farmers and farmers with high livelihood capital. However, it had a significant positive effect on farmers engaged in large-scale operations and those with low livelihood capital. (3) Improving digital literacy primarily enhanced farmers′ ecological protection awareness and food safety awareness, thereby effectively motivating the adoption of green utilization behavior of cultivated land. Conclusion Digital literacy plays an important role in the green utilization of cultivated land. However, its impacts vary significantly among farmers with different land operation scales and livelihood capital. Therefore, rural digital infrastructure construction and digital project training should be strengthened to improve farmers' digital literacy, with particular attention to large-scale farmers and those with low livelihood capital. Enhancing their ecological protection awareness and food safety awareness can further encourage their active adoption of green utilization behavior for cultivated land.
ChenF, JiangF F, SunJ, et al. Logic and innovative practice of cultivated land protection transformation in the context of large-scale balancing cultivated land occupation and reclamation reform[J]. China Land Science, 2024,38(10):12-24.
ZengY T, XiongY, DengC X. Performance evolution and spatial pattern of cultivated land protection in Dongting Lake eco-economic zone[J]. Economic Geography, 2023,43(1):169-176.
SongY P, ZhaoX F, WuJ Z. Rural innovation under the “trinity” model: research on the coordinated development of the government, cooperatives and farmers[J]. Journal of Public Management, 2024,21(2):102-114,174.
ZhangK J, YinC B, HsiaopingC. Anticipation perception, social learning and green production behavior of rice farmers: based on survey data of 867 households in Anhui and Hubei Province[J]. Journal of Agro-Forestry Economics and Management, 2021,20(1):29-41.
YanY Q, ChenM Q, ZhangJ, et al. Farmers' willingness and behavior response to environmental friendly cultivated land protection technology: the empirical evidence from application of soil testing and formula fertilization technology based on 1092 farmers in Jiangxi Province[J]. China Land Science, 2021,35(10):85-93.
ZhaoX Y, ZhengJ, ZhangM Y. Study on the green production behavior of new agricultural management subjects under the rural revitalization strategy: based on the perspective of the level, structure and complementarity of capital endowment[J]. Rural Economy, 2022(1):89-97.
[13]
GaoY, ZhaoD Y, YuL L, et al. Influence of a new agricultural technology extension mode on farmers' technology adoption behavior in China[J]. Journal of Rural Studies, 2020,76:173-183.
ZhangF L, ChenM Q, HuangQ L, et al. Analysis of neighborhood effects of farmers'green production technology adoption: moderating effects based on agrotechnology extension and farmers'perceptions[J]. China Land Science, 2023,37(5):67-78.
JiangL L, HuangH Q, HeK. The impacts of technical training and economic subsidies on farmers' diffusion behaviors of bio-pesticide application technology[J]. China Rural Survey, 2024(4):163-184.
SuL L, ZhangH Y, PengY L. Study on the mechanism of farmers' digital literacy driving the development of digital countryside[J]. E-Government, 2021(10):42-56.
DuF J, ZhengJ, ZhaoX Y. From “observing” to “implementing”: the impact of digital literacy on lowcarbon production of farmers[J]. Rural Economy, 2024(6):77-87.
WangX S, GuoZ X, LiN, et al. The impact of land acquisition on farmers' employment and welfare: an empirical analysis using CHIPs data[J]. Journal of Public Management, 2019,16(1):153-168,176.
LiuX Y, LiJ H, ZhaoK. Influence of farmers' digital literacy on production factor allocation[J]. Research on Economics and Management, 2024,45(10):56-76.
QiuH X, ZhangY X. A review of rational choice theory[J]. Journal of Sun Yat-Sen University: Social Science Edition, 1998,38(1):118-125.
[30]
VaradarajanR. Resource advantage theory, resource based theory, and theory of multimarket competition: does multimarket rivalry restrain firms from leveraging resource Advantages?[J]. Journal of Business Research, 2023,160:113713.
XiongF X, PengY Y, LiuY X, et al. Impact of digital information ability on farmers' adoption of green production technology: mediation effect based on technological ecological cognition[J]. Resources and Environment in the Yangtze Basin, 2025,34(1):216-225.
LiH M, YiQ. The mechanism and promotion path of water rights trading to empower farmers to increase their incomes[J]. Research of Agricultural Modernization, 2024,45(2):177-187.
WuJ Q, YanY, JiangY. Impact of farmers' time preference on their adoption intention of bio-pesticides: based on the moderating effect of agricultural technology extension mode[J]. Resources Science, 2023,45(6):1268-1283.
DengY Y, ZhuJ F. Effect of conservation tillage technology adoption on yield increasing and stabilizing[J]. Resources Science, 2023,45(10):2050-2063.
[39]
MishraD, AkmanI, MishraA. Theory of reasoned action application for green information technology acceptance[J]. Computers in Human Behavior, 2014,36:29-40.
YuL F, CaoD Y, LiaoB. Research on the impact of livelihood capital and ecological cognition on farmers'willingness to adopt green technologies[J]. Chinese Journal of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, 2024,45(12):27-39.
CuiZ D, YuZ G. Study on the influence of information literacy on farmers' adoption of conservation tillage technology: also on the regulating effect of ecological compensation[J]. Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture, 2025,33(3):590-604
ZhangS X, ChenM Q, XieX X, et al. Ecological cognition, information transmission and farmers' ecological farming adoption behavior[J]. China Land Science, 2019,33(8):89-96.
WangC C, XiaC P, TongQ M, et al. Does participating in E-commerce promote farmers' green production: an empirical study based on 812 fruit farmers in four counties of three provinces[J]. China Population, Resources and Environment, 2022,32(5):132-143.
ShiH T, RenS N, FanH, et al. The impact of livelihood capital on the pro-environmental behavior of indigenous residents in the Qinling National Park creation area: an analysis based on the perspective of fairness perception[J]. Journal of Natural Resources, 2024,39(10):2335-2349.
[50]
江艇.因果推断经验研究中的中介效应与调节效应[J].中国工业经济,2022(5):100-120.
[51]
JiangT. Mediating effects and moderating effects in causal inference[J]. China Industrial Economics, 2022(5):100-120.
YangZ H. Ageing, social network and the adoption of green production technology: evidence from farm households in six provinces in the Yangtze River Basin[J]. China Rural Survey, 2018(4):44-58.
SunZ Y, GongS Y, YuZ G. Influence of digital literacy on farmers' green production technology adoption behavior[J]. Journal of China Agricultural University, 2024,29(4):12-26.
ZhangC Z, YangG Q. Change of farmers'livelihood capital before and after rural land consolidation in different modes[J]. China Land Science, 2018,32(10):90-96.