China is the world's largest country on ammonia (NH3) emission, which results in sever air pollution there. China's updated Clean Air Act has started to pay attention to NH3 reduction, but it is believed that solutions are mainly constrained by implementation of suitable technologies. Here we argued that socioeconomic barriers are the key to hinder the reduction of agricultural NH3 emission for better air quality in China. We found that small farm size is the key driving force for high NH3 emission from croplands, while little manure storage and recycle facilities and the mismatch of livestock and cropland on spatial distribution are the reasons for high NH3 emission from livestock. Overcoming these socioeconomic barriers could at least reduce half of the agricultural NH3 emission while maintaining food production in China. It not only can benefit air quality but also reduce potentials of eutrophication, groundwater contamination, soil acidification, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emission.
Keywords: Agricultural facilities; Ammonia; Cost and benefit, farm size; Livestock.