Digital Economy and Cultivated Land Degradation Mitigation in China: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis

ABSTRACT The digital economy is reconfiguring farmers' production decisions, resource allocation, and conservation awareness, thereby shaping cultivated land utilization efficiency and ecological quality. Drawing on data from 1863 rural Chinese households, this study develops a composite index to quantify digital economy engagement and examines its influence on cultivated land quality protection behaviour. Using Ordered Probit and CMP models, this study reveals that digital economy participation significantly enhances farmers' cultivated land quality protection behaviour. The main mechanisms driving this effect include enhanced green production awareness, increased agricultural income, and expanded social networks. Heterogeneity results reveal that the promotional effect is particularly pronounced among younger, better‐educated farmers who engage in full‐time farming, have stronger household economic conditions, operate on larger scales, or live in resource‐scarce villages. However, no significant effect is observed among other farmer groups. Regarding sub‐dimensional effects, digital supply and marketing exerts the strongest positive effect on farmland quality conservation behaviour, digital finance shows a moderate but significant effect, and the independent net effect of digital production remains statistically insignificant. Therefore, toward sustainable cultivated land management, further developing the rural digital economy, narrowing the digital divide, and fostering farmers' engagement with digital platforms are essential.