Atmospheric wet nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) depositions are important sources of bioavailable N and P, and the input of N and P and their ratios significantly influences nutrient availability and balance in terrestrial as well as aquatic ecosystems. Here we monitored atmospheric P depositions by measuring monthly dissolved P concentration in rainfall at 41 field stations in China. Average deposition fluxes of N and P were 13.69 ± 8.69 kg N ha⁻¹ a⁻¹ (our previous study) and 0.21 ± 0.17 kg P ha⁻¹ a⁻¹, respectively. Central and southern China had higher N and P deposition rates than northwest China, northeast China, Inner Mongolia, or Qinghai‐Tibet. Atmospheric N and P depositions showed strong seasonal patterns and were dependent upon seasonal precipitation. Fertilizer and energy consumption were significantly correlated with N deposition but less correlated with P deposition. The N:P ratios of atmospheric wet deposition (with the average of 77 ± 40, by mass) were negatively correlated with current soil N:P ratios in different ecological regions, suggesting that the imbalanced atmospheric N and P deposition will alter nutrient availability and strengthen P limitation, which may further influence the structure and function of terrestrial ecosystems. The findings provide the assessments of both wet N and P deposition and their N:P ratio across China and indicate potential for strong impacts of atmospheric deposition on broad range of terrestrial ecosystems.

Advances in manufacturing and trade have reshaped global nitrogen deposition patterns, yet their dynamics and drivers remain unclear. Here, we compile a comprehensive global nitrogen deposition database spanning 1977–2021, aggregating 52,671 site-years of data from observation networks and published articles. This database show that global nitrogen deposition to land is 92.7 Tg N in 2020. Total nitrogen deposition increases initially, stabilizing after peaking in 2015. Developing countries at low and middle latitudes emerge as new hotspots. The gross domestic product per capita is found to be highly and non-linearly correlated with global nitrogen deposition dynamic evolution, and reduced nitrogen deposition peaks higher and earlier than oxidized nitrogen deposition. Our findings underscore the need for policies that align agricultural and industrial progress to facilitate the peak shift or reduction of nitrogen deposition in developing countries and to strengthen measures to address NH₃ emission hotspots in developed countries.