Reporting of gridded ammonia emission and assessment of hotspots across India: A comprehensive study of 24 anthropogenic sources

Ammonia (NH₃) acts as a key precursor of the particulate matter, could reduce visibility, deplete stratospheric ozone, and trigger perturbation in ecosystems. Being an agrarian country with a large livestock population and uncontrolled fertilizer application, India could be accountable as a major stakeholder of global NH₃ emissions. This study developed a comprehensive gridded (0.1° x 0.1°) ammonia inventory for India considering 24 types of sources. The total NH₃ emission is estimated to be 10.54 Tg/yr in 2022, where synthetic fertilizer application accounts for ∼47 % followed by livestock (∼34 %). Minor unattended sectors such as biomass burning, agricultural soil, human excrement, waste disposal, etc. contribute 0.68 Tg/yr, 0.32 Tg/yr, 0.3 Tg/yr, and 0.14 Tg/yr, respectively. The overall uncertainty of the inventory ranges around ± 55 %. These emission datasets are essential for atmospheric chemistry models and could be a crucial tool for policymakers to combat ammonia pollution.