Abstract:
Agricultural non-point source pollution has become an important factor restricting sustainable agricultural development and ecological environment protection. As an important measure to achieve high-quality agricultural development and rural revitalization, digital rural construction plays an important role in the prevention and control of agricultural non-point source pollution. This study aims to explore the impact of digital rural construction on agricultural non-point source pollution, analyze its effects and transmission mechanisms, and propose corresponding countermeasures and suggestions to assist in the prevention and control of agricultural non-point source pollution based on the research conclusions of this article. The academic community has conducted extensive research on digital rural construction and agricultural non-point source pollution, providing rich theoretical and practical experience for this article. However, after reviewing relevant literature, it is found that the analysis of digital rural construction is more at the theoretical level, focusing on exploring its social and economic benefits. More attention is paid to the causes and current situation of agricultural non-point source pollution, and environmental regulation is the research focus in its prevention and control. The ecological effects of digital rural construction and other factors related to the prevention and control of agricultural non-point source pollution still need to be further studied and explored. In view of this, this article constructs an evaluation index system for digital rural construction from three dimensions: rural infrastructure, digitalization of agricultural productive investment, and transformation and development of rural life, with 14 secondary indicators. Taking agricultural non-point source pollution as the starting point, it explores the ecological effects of digital rural construction, enriches the research on ecological functions of digital rural construction, and explores new paths for the prevention and control of agricultural non-point source pollution. This article adopts a research method of theoretical analysis and empirical testing. Firstly, relevant research is read to construct a theoretical analysis framework for the impact of digital rural construction on agricultural non-point source pollution. Then, a mathematical model and an evaluation index system for digital rural construction are constructed. Based on the panel data of provincial-level China from 2013 to 2022, the effect and transmission mechanism of digital rural construction on agricultural non-point source pollution are empirically tested. Research has found that the level of digital rural construction in China is generally on the rise, while agricultural non-point source pollution is on the decline. The trend is more pronounced in the eastern and central regions of China. The empirical results show that firstly, the construction of digital rural areas significantly promotes the prevention and control of agricultural non-point source pollution. After a series of robustness tests, the conclusion still holds true. Secondly, the construction of digital rural areas can reduce agricultural non-point source pollution through upgrading industrial structure and advancing agricultural technology. Thirdly, the heterogeneity analysis results show that digital rural construction has a significant inhibitory effect on agricultural non-point source pollution in both eastern and central regions of China, but the effect is not significant in western and northeastern regions of China. It has a significant inhibitory effect on both grain producing and non grain producing areas, and has a significant inhibitory effect on four types of pollution sources: pesticides, fertilizers, agricultural films, and agricultural diesel. Based on the above conclusions, this article proposes to strengthen the construction of digital rural areas, improve the digitalization level of agricultural and rural production and life, enhance the level of agricultural science and technology, continuously optimize the industrial structure, fully leverage the radiating and driving role of eastern and central China, and continuously increase policy support for western and northeastern regions.