Background: Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition into terrestrial ecosystems is frequently considered as a threat to phyto-diversity. In previous investigations, the atmospheric N inputs enriched in mosses were recorded in 2004 as part of a regional investigation at 54 locations in north-west Germany and in 2005 at 726 locations across the whole country. This article deals with a study conducted in 2012 comparing N concentrations in mosses sampled within 30 forest stands and in 26 adjacent open fields in north-west Germany. The N concentration in mosses were determined and, by the use of a regression model, converted to N atmospheric deposition values. These deposition estimations enabled to calculate N critical load exceedances.