The impact of knowledge capacity on Chinese farmers’ green production behavior: a case study in the context of environmental regulation in China

China’s agricultural development has gradually transitioned from traditional to modern agriculture, leading to an increased demand for knowledge and skills among farmers. There are numerous factors influencing farmers’ green production behavior, yet research on the impact of knowledge capacity on farmers’ green production behavior under environmental regulatory contexts is still lacking. Using microdata from 860 Chinese medicinal herb planting households in Chifeng City, China, this study employs a binary logistic model to investigate the influence of knowledge demand capacity, knowledge absorption capacity, and knowledge transformation capacity on farmers’ green production behavior. Simultaneously, by constructing policy scenarios of restrictive environmental regulations, guiding environmental regulations, and incentive environmental regulations, the study analyzes their moderating effects on the relationship between knowledge capacity and green production behavior. The results indicate that knowledge demand capacity does not significantly affect farmers’ green production behavior, while knowledge absorption capacity and knowledge transformation capacity have a significant positive impact. Restrictive environmental regulation policies positively moderate the relationship between knowledge demand capacity and farmers’ green production behavior. Incentive environmental regulation policies can reverse the negative effect of knowledge demand capacity on farmers’ green production behavior, while guiding environmental regulation policies do not have a moderating effect on the relationship between knowledge demand capacity, knowledge absorption capacity, knowledge transformation capacity, and farmers’ green production behavior. Therefore improving the mechanism for green production training, enhancing the accessibility of knowledge acquisition for farmers, strengthening the implementation of environmental regulation policies, and forming a virtuous cycle between farmers’ internal mechanisms and policy mechanisms.