Effects of High Nutrient Supply on the Growth of Seven Bamboo Species

Over the last decade, bamboo has emerged as an interesting plant for the treatment of various polluted waters using plant-based wastewater treatment systems. In these systems, nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations in wastewater can exceed plant requirements and potentially limit plant growth. The effects of two nutrient rates on the growth of seven bamboo species were assessed in a one-year experiment: Dendrocalamus strictus, Thyrsostachys siamensis, Bambusa tuldoides, Gigantochloa wrayi, Bambusa oldhamii, Bambusa multiplex and Bambusa vulgaris. Nutrient rates were applied with a 20:20:20 NPK fertilizer as 2.6 and 13.2 t.ha.yr^?1NPK to three-year-old bamboo planted in 70 L containers. Morphological characters, photosynthetic responses, and NPK content in bamboo tissues were investigated. Under high-nutrient supply rate, the main trend observed was an increase of culm production but the culms’ diameters were reduced. For the seven species, the aboveground biomass yield tended to increase with high-nutrient rate. Increasing in nutrient rates also improved the photosynthetic activity which is consistent with the increase of nitrogen and phosphorus contents measured in plant tissues. All the bamboo species tested appears suitable for wastewater treatment purposes, but the species Bambusa oldhamii and Gigantochloa wrayi showed the higher biomass yield and nutrient removal.     

Comparative effects of downslope water and nutrient movement on plant nutrition, photosynthesis, and growth in Alaskan tundra

Changes in water and nutrient movement are common disturbances resulting from human activities in arctic regions. To assess the influence of water and nutrient movement on different plant growth forms, we added water and NPK fertilizer along 10 to 20 m linear transects across small natural drainages on an Alaskan tundra slope. Water was added by continuous-flow emitters from a drip irrigation system at a rate of 450 L m⁻¹ d⁻¹ during the 1986 growing season and 110 L m⁻¹ d⁻¹ in the 1987 growing season. NPK in the form of Osmocote, a slow release fertilizer, was applied at 0.5 kg per linear meter in early and mid-season of the 1985 growing season. Tissue N and P contents, light-saturated photosynthetic rates, and aboveground biomass production were measured at peak season for key species 2 m above and 2 and 6 m below the water and nutrient applications in 1986 and 1987.
Mean leaf N and P of the species tested increased slightly 2 m below the water addition sites and dramatically below the fertilizer addition sites. Increases in tissue N and P were also found 6 m below the fertilizer addition points. Leaf photosynthesis tended to increase 2 m below the water and nutrient additions for the species tested. Six meters below the treatment application points, photosynthesis was minimally affected in 1986 but increased in 1987. Increases in leaf area on the irrigation treatments were found only for the evergreen species, Ledum palustre and Vaccinium vitis-idaea , 2 m below the site of addition. In contrast, fertilizer addition caused large increases in leaf area production for all species tested at 2 m below the treatment, and for some species at 6 m below treatment. The overall effects of the two treatments were similar, but were greater for the fertilizer addition.     

Effect of fertilization level on some physiological, morphological and growth characteristics of Ficus benjamina

Young Ficus benjamina L. (weeping fig) plants were grown in perlite under low photon flux density regime in the greenhouse. Influence of seven fertilization levels – ranging from nutrient deficiency to saline conditions – on photosynthetic, morphological and growth characteristics was studied. The compensation point for photosynthetic photon flux density was minimal and the quantum efficiency of photosynthesis was maximal at a fertilization level with an electrical conductivity of 1.75 mS. Dark respiration was not affected by the level of fertilization. Chlorophyll content per unit leaf area increased while stomatal conductance slowly decreased with increasing fertilization level. Growth expressed in terms of either height, total dry weight or total leaf area attained an optimum at 1.75 mS, i.e. at the level where the compensation point for photon flux density and the quantum efficiency of photosynthesis were optimal. Leaf size and visible quality decreased at higher fertilizer levels.     

Long-term addition of fertilizer,labile carbon,and fungicide alters the biomass of plant functional groups in a subarctic-alpine community

In subarctic ecosystems, plant growth is mostly limited by nutrient availability and harsh climate. Investigating how soil nutrient availability controls the plant community composition may therefore help to understand indirect effects of climate change. The study was conducted in a long-term field experiment on a subarctic-alpine fellfield dominated by woody evergreen shrubs, bryophytes, and lichens. To manipulate nutrient availability additions of NPK fertilizer, labile C, and fungicide (benomyl) were done in a fully factorial design, replicated in six blocks. The treatments were run for 10 years, and the aboveground plant biomass was harvested 4 and 16 years after initiating the experiment. In addition, soil inorganic N and P concentration was analyzed the same years. Increased nutrient availability (NPK fertilizer) largely increased the biomass of graminoids and unexpectedly of bryophytes, but not of other vascular plant groups. Also, limitation of soil nutrient availability caused by labile C addition decreased the relative proportion of green shoots in evergreen shrubs, although these were expected to cope better with the nutrient limitation than the opportunistic graminoids, which, by contrast, were unaffected. Reduced fungal biomass due to benomyl addition was accompanied by increased evergreen shrub and clubmoss biomass. Taken together, the effects of treatments were most pronounced 16 years after initiation of the experiment, but despite changes in biomass the overall plant community composition was resistant to environmental changes.     

Photosynthetic performance and resource utilization of two mangrove species coexisting in a hypersaline scrub forest

In a hypersaline mangrove scrub forest in northern Florida, coexisting trees of Laguncularia racemosa and Avicennia germinans were either fertilized with nitrogen or phosphorus, or not fertilized (controls). We aimed to test whether nutrient additions differentially altered photosynthetic performance and resource utilization in these two species. In control trees, photosynthetic rates were higher in L. racemosa than A. germinans. However, leaf nitrogen concentrations were higher in A. germinans than L. racemosa. Avicennia germinans responded to fertilization with nitrogen by increasing leaf nitrogen concentrations and rates of photosynthesis such that they were equivalent to photosynthesis in L. racemosa. Laguncularia racemosa did not show a response to nitrogen additions. Neither species showed strong responses to phosphorus fertilization. Avicennia germinans had high photosynthetic water-use efficiency (photosynthesis/transpiration), but low photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency (photosynthesis/leaf nitrogen). In contrast, L. racemosa had comparatively low photosynthetic water use efficiency and high photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency. Leaf level characteristics lead us to hypothesize that coexistence of A. germinans and L. racemosa should occur where nitrogen levels are low and salinity is moderate, or at least moderate for some period of the year.     

Nitrogen limitation of growth and nutrient dynamics in a disturbed mangrove forest,Indian River Lagoon,Florida

The objectives of this study were to determine effects of nutrient enrichment on plant growth, nutrient dynamics, and photosynthesis in a disturbed mangrove forest in an abandoned mosquito impoundment in Florida. Impounding altered the hydrology and soil chemistry of the site. In 1997, we established a factorial experiment along a tree-height gradient with three zones, i.e., fringe, transition, dwarf, and three fertilizer treatment levels, i.e., nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), control, in Mosquito Impoundment 23 on the eastern side of Indian River. Transects traversed the forest perpendicular to the shoreline, from a Rhizophora mangle-dominated fringe through an Avicennia germinans stand of intermediate height, and into a scrub or dwarf stand of A. germinans in the hinterland. Growth rates increased significantly in response to N fertilization. Our growth data indicated that this site is N-limited along the tree-height gradient. After 2 years of N addition, dwarf trees resembled vigorously growing saplings. Addition of N also affected internal dynamics of N and P and caused increases in rates of photosynthesis. These findings contrast with results for a R. mangle-dominated forest in Belize where the fringe is N-limited, but the dwarf zone is P-limited and the transition zone is co-limited by N and P. This study demonstrated that patterns of nutrient limitation in mangrove ecosystems are complex, that not all processes respond similarly to the same nutrient, and that similar habitats are not limited by the same nutrient when different mangrove forests are compared.     

The sensitivity of phenological events to changes in nutrient availability for several plant growth forms in the arctic

The purpose of the experiment was to see whether a change in nutrient availability resulting from perturbations might alter rates of development of the major plant growth forms of an arctic tussock tundra slope. Slow release fertilizer pellets (NPK) were spread in June and July 1985 on the frost surface under an 8-20 cm thick layer of thawed tundra in the northern foothills of the Brooks Range, Alaska. Initiation day of main phenological events, their duration and their intensity (% plants reaching a phenophase in a plot) were recorded during the 1985, 1986 and 1987 growing season. Variations in initiation day of phenophases were mainly due to environmental variations among years and to a lesser degree to fertilization; only timing of vegetative bud break of evergreen shrubs was significantly affected by fertilization, and occurred earlier than in the control. Flowering intensity varied significantly from one year to an other but was not significantly stimulated by fertilization.     

丛枝菌根真菌群落对白三叶草生长的影响

不同施肥处理影响AMF(Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi)群体结构,然而不同AMF群体结构对植物的生长以及养分吸收的影响尚未见报道,试验利用盆栽实验研究了7种不同来源的丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)群落对白三叶草生长和N、P、K以及微量元素Cu、Zn、Mn的吸收的影响。7种AMF群落分离自长期定位施肥试验地,分别为NPK、OM、CK、1/2OM、NP、NK和PK。每年施肥量是300kg N/hm2,135kg P2O5/hm2,300kg K2O/hm2。有机肥处理的N、P、K养分量与试验地NPK处理含量相同,原料以粉碎的麦秆为主,加上适量的大豆饼和棉仁饼,有机肥经堆制发酵后施用。试验土壤采用封丘试验地土壤,经灭菌处理。试验结果表明,接种不同AMF群落均能促进三叶草的生长,对养分吸收则表现不同。分离自CK试验地的AMF群落对三叶草侵染率显著低于其它6种AMF群落。分离自1/2OM和OM试验地的AMF群落较分离自NPK、CK、NP和NK的AMF群落显著促进了三叶草对P的吸收;各种AMF群落都促进了对N和K的吸收;分离自OM、CK、1/2OM、NP、NK试验地的降低了三叶草植株N含量;分离自NPK试验地的AMF群落提高了三叶草植物K含量;对于Cu、Zn、Mn元素的吸收,不同处理存在较大的差异。AMF群落对三叶草生长以及养分吸收贡献不同,这与不同施肥管理下不同AMF群落的优势种属的侵染率、养分转化以及菌丝发育及分布有关。     

Differences in plant function in phosphorus- and nitrogen-limited mangrove ecosystems

Mangrove ecosystems can be either nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) limited and are therefore vulnerable to nutrient pollution. Nutrient enrichment with either N or P may have differing effects on ecosystems because of underlying differences in plant physiological responses to these nutrients in either N- or P-limited settings. Using a common mangrove species, Avicennia germinans, in sites where growth was either N or P limited, we investigated differing physiological responses to N and P limitation and fertilization. We tested the hypothesis that water uptake and transport, and hydraulic architecture, were the main processes limiting productivity at the P-limited site, but that this was not the case at the N-limited site. We found that plants at the P-deficient site had lower leaf water potential, stomatal conductance and photosynthetic carbon-assimilation rates, and less conductive xylem, than those at the N-limited site. These differences were greatly reduced with P fertilization at the P-limited site. By contrast, fertilization with N at the N-limited site had little effect on either photosynthetic or hydraulic traits. We conclude that growth in N- and P-limited sites differentially affect the hydraulic pathways of mangroves. Plants experiencing P limitation appear to be water deficient and undergo more pronounced changes in structure and function with relief of nutrient deficiency than those in N-limited ecosystems.     

不同有机肥量对旱地玉米光合特性和产量的影响

在渭北旱塬合阳试验基地进行了4年的旱地有机培肥试验, 研究不同有机肥施用量对旱地玉米光合特性和产量的影响.结果表明： 与单施化肥相比,施有机肥处理的玉米各生育时期的叶片光合速率和气孔导度显著增大,胞间CO2浓度显著减小;随着有机肥施用量的增加,玉米叶片各生育时期的叶片光合速率和气孔导度逐渐增大,胞间CO2浓度逐渐减小.玉米各生育时期的光合作用主要受非气孔因素限制,施用有机肥显著降低了非气孔因素对光合的限制.连续4年施用有机肥,改善了土壤养分状况,使养分不再是玉米光合速率和产量的主要限制因子.     

施用不同氮、磷、钾肥和有机肥对‘红阳’猕猴桃生长及产量的影响

为阐明施肥与猕猴桃产量、品质的关系,优化施肥配方,以猕猴桃品种‘红阳’(Actinidia chinensis‘Hongyang’)为试验材料,采用田间小区栽培方法研究了不同施肥处理对‘红阳’植株生长、叶片光合特性及果实产量的影响。研究结果显示,N、P、K任何一种元素的缺乏均会影响植株生长并降低果实产量;均衡施用N、P、K肥可以提高叶片光合作用,促进植株新梢和主干茎的生长,从而提高果实产量;如果N和K比例过大则会降低叶片气孔导度、胞间CO2浓度和净光合速率,从而减少果实产量;增施有机肥对提高果实产量效果不显著,但可以提高单果重,过量施用有机肥则会显著降低产量。本研究结果表明,均衡施用N、P、K并配施一定的有机肥(N 250 g/株、P2O5250 g/株、K2O 250 g/株、有机肥6 kg/株)能显著促进植株的生长并提高果实产量。氮、磷、钾肥与有机肥配合施用是提高猕猴桃果园养分管理的有效方法。     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community structure and diversity in response to long-term fertilization: a field case from China

The influences of different fertilizer treatments on spore community structure and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (AMF) were investigated in a long-term fertilization experiment with seven treatments: organic manure (OM), half organic manure N plus half fertilizer N (1/2 OMN), fertilizer NPK, fertilizer NP, fertilizer NK, fertilizer PK, and the control (without fertilization). Fertilization generally increased the nutrient contained in the fertilizer and treatments with NPK and 1/2 OMN produced the highest crop yields. Thirty-five species of AMF within 6 genera, including 8 previously undescribed species, were recovered. Similarly in all seven treatments, the most abundant genus was Glomus, and followed by Acaulospora. All the fertilization treatments changed AM species composition, and NK treatment had the slightest influence. Fertilization with fertilizers NP, PK and NPK markedly increased AM fungal spore density, while 1/2 OMN, OM and NK treatments showed no significant influences. All the fertilizer treatments, especially OM, significantly decreased species richness and species diversity (Shannon-Weiner index). There were no significant correlations between AM fungal parameters (spore density, species richness and species diversity) and soil properties. The findings indicate that long-term fertilization all can change AM fungal community structure and decrease species diversity, while balanced fertilization with NPK or 1/2 OMN is the most suitable fertilization regime if taking both crop yields and AM species diversity into account.     

Formulation of a liquid fertilizer for sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) using vermicompost leachate

Leachate from vermicomposting contains large amounts of plant nutrients and can be used as liquid fertilizer, but normally diluted to avoid plant damage. The amount of nutrients applied is thus reduced so that an additional fertilizer is required. We investigated how dilution of vermicompost leachate combined with different concentrations of NPK triple 17 fertilizer, and polyoxyethylene tridecyl alcohol as dispersant and polyethylene nonylphenol as adherent to increase efficiency of fertilizer uptake, affected sorghum plant development. The vermicomposting leachate with pH 7.8 and electrolytic conductivity 2.6 dS m(-1), contained 834 mg K(+) l(-1), 247 mg NO(3)(-)l(-1) and 168 mg PO(4)(3-) l(-1), was free of pathogens and resulted in a 65 % germination index. Vermicompost leachate can be used as liquid fertilizer for the cultivation of sorghum without dilution and mixed with 140-170 g l(-1) of NPK triple 17 fertilizer and 2-3 ml(-1) of dispersant and 0-1 ml l(-1) adherent. It was found that vermicompost leachate stimulated plant development, but fertilization with NPK was required for maximum growth.     

Nutrient and carbon relations in subalpine dwarf shrubs after neighbour removal or fertilization in northern Italy

Two subalpine dwarf-shrub heath communities with differing levels of soil nutrient availability were subjected to a 3-year experimental manipulation, including nutrient addition or removal of one of the two co-dominant species from each community. The main objective of our study was to assess the relative importance of interspecific competition versus nutrient limitation in relation to soil fertility. We also aimed to investigate if and to what extent current-year shoot size, leaf-based rates of net photosynthesis and foliar nutrient status accounted for the observed changes in the aboveground biomass of the shrubs. At the end of the experiment, neighbour removal increased the aboveground biomass of all shrubs, especially in the more fertile community, while fertilization did not. We concluded that: (1) competition is more effective than nutrient limitation in structuring the vegetation of subalpine heathlands; and (2) competition intensity is stronger in the more fertile community. The observed patterns of variations in aboveground biomass were not consistently related to net photosynthetic rates, size of individual shoots and foliar nutrient status. Hence, we also concluded that the growth response of dwarf shrubs to altered environmental conditions is primarily determined by developmental plasticity.     

The influence of a dissolved inorganic nitrogen gradient on phytoplankton community dynamics in a chain of lakes

In a chain of lakes along which nutrient availability varies in a gradient, we performed factorial nutrient enrichment experiments to determine if nitrogen limitation was the principal factor controlling the differences in phytoplankton biomass, photosynthetic productivity, diversity, and species composition among two of the lakes in the chain. In the least productive lake, East Graham Lake, P and C enrichments (in the absence of N enrichment) had no effect on biomass and diversity, whereas within two weeks the N enrichments (alone or in any combination with P and/or C) increased the biomass and decreased the diversity of East Graham Lake phytoplankton to levels similar or identical to those in more productive Shoe Lake. Short-term ¹⁴C photosynthetic rates in East Graham Lake water also responded only to N in the third week. However, photosynthesis was stimulated by P in the first week, and a few species did increase in numbers with P enrichment, suggesting that some degree of P limitation remains in addition to the strong N limitation in East Graham Lake. A number of species responded individually to the enrichments in a manner similar to that of the overall community, and a strong overlapping of discriminant analysis scores for N-enriched East Graham Lake with those of Shoe Lake was consistent with our prediction that the community structure of N-enriched East Graham Lake water would shift toward that of Shoe Lake. However, many species did not respond consistently with these results, and the nutrients tested were clearly not a major factor in the differences in abundance of those species among the two lakes. The results support the argument that overall biomass production and diversity of the phytoplankton community in a lake can be a relatively simple function of a single most-limiting nutrient. However, many of the species responses also confirm that, while nutrient availability is an important factor in the control of the species composition of the community, other factors are likely to prevent reliable predictions of all species effects on the basis of nutrient availability alone.     

Differential sensitivity of spinach and amaranthus to enhanced UV-B at varying soil nutrient levels: association with gas exchange, UV-B-absorbing compounds and membrane damage

The metabolic reasons associated with differential sensitivity of C₃ and C₄ plant species to enhanced UV-B under varying soil nutrient levels are not well understood. In the present study, spinach (Spinacia oleracea L. var All Green), a C₃ and amaranthus (Amaranthus tricolor L. var Pusa Badi Chaulai), a C₄ plant were subjected to enhanced UV-B (280–315 nm; 7.2 kJ m^?2 day^?1) over ambient under varying soil nutrient levels. The nutrient amendments were recommended Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), 1.5× recommended NPK, 1.5× recommended N and 1.5× recommended K. Enhanced UV-B negatively affected both the species at all nutrient levels, but the reductions varied with nutrient concentration and combinations. Reductions in photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and chlorophyll content were significantly more in spinach compared with amaranthus. The reduction in photosynthetic rate was maximum at 1.5× recommended K and minimum in 1.5× NPK amended plants. The oxidative damage to membranes measured in terms of malondialdehyde content was significantly higher in spinach compared with amaranthus. Enhanced UV-B reduced SOD activity in both the plants except in amaranthus at 1.5× recommended K. POX activity increased under enhanced UV-B at all nutrient levels in amaranthus, but only at 1.5× K in spinach. Amaranthus had significantly higher UV-B-absorbing compounds than spinach even under UV-B stress. Lowest reductions in yield and total biomass under enhanced UV-B compared with ambient were observed in amaranthus grown at 1.5× recommended NPK. Enhanced UV-B did not significantly change the nitrogen use efficiency in amaranthus at all NPK levels, but reduced in spinach except at 1.5× K. These findings suggest that the differential sensitivity of the test species under enhanced UV-B at varying nutrient levels is due to varying antioxidative and UV-B screening capacity, and their ability to utilize nutrients. Amaranthus tolerated enhanced UV-B stress more than spinach at all nutrient levels and 1.5× recommended NPK lowered the sensitivity maximally to enhanced UV-B with respect to photosynthesis, biomass and yield. PCA score has also confirmed the lower sensitivity of amaranthus compared with spinach with respect to the measured physiological and biochemical parameters.     

The influence of salinity on growth,biomass production and photosynthesis of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. and Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. seedlings

The influence of NaCl salinity on growth, dry-matter production and leaf photosynthesis of seedlings of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. and Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. was studied by imposing 4 levels (40, 80, 120 and 160 mM) of NaCl in pot culture. Salinity up to 160 mM did not affect plant survival, but did affect plant growth and dry-matter production depending upon the species and salt concentration. NaCl reduced leaf number and dry-weight of all the plant components, but increased stem dry-weight, especially in E. camaldulensis. Salinization also stimulated total dry-matter production at all the salinity levels in E. camaldulensis but only at 40 mM in D. sissoo. The two species varied in protein and chlorophyll concentration and in leaf photosynthetic rate. Protein and chlorophyll concentration of the plants fell at all the levels of NaCl, except at 40 mM, where stimulation in the photosynthetic carbon assimilation of the plants occurred. However, no distinct relationship between leaf photosynthetic rate and dry-matter production was found. The study indicated that low salt concentrations generally stimulated growth, biomass production and rate of photosynthesis in both the species, and E. camaldulensis appeared more NaCl salt-tolerant than D. sissoo.     

Small trees,big problems: Comparative leaf function under extreme edaphic stress

Premise of the Study

The pygmy forest, a plant community of severely stunted conifers and ericaceous angiosperms, occurs on patches of highly acidic, nutrient‐poor soils along the coast of Northern California, USA. This system is an excellent opportunity to study the effect of severe nutrient deficiency on leaf physiology in a naturally‐occurring ecosystem. In this study, we seek to understand the physiological mechanisms stunting the plants' growth and their implications for whole plant function.

Methods

We measured 14 traits pertaining to leaf photosynthetic function or physical structure on seven species. Samples were taken from the pygmy forest community and from conspecifics growing on higher‐nutrient soils, where trees may grow over 30 m tall.

Key Results

Pygmy plants of most species maintained similar area‐based photosynthetic and stomatal conductance rates to conspecific controls, but had lower specific leaf area (leaf area divided by dry weight), lower percent nitrogen, and less leaf area relative to xylem growth. Sequoia sempervirens, a species rare in the pygmy forest, had a categorically different response from the more common plants and had remarkably low photosynthetic rates.

Conclusions

Pygmy plants were not stunted by low photosynthetic rates on a leaf‐area basis; instead, several species had restricted whole‐plant photosynthesis due to low leaf area production. Pygmy plants of all species showed signs of greater carbon investment in their leaves and higher production of nonphotosynthetic leaf tissue, further contributing to slow growth rates.     

Effects of Plant Diversity,Functional Group Composition,and Fertilization on Soil Microbial Properties in Experimental Grassland

BackgroundLoss of biodiversity and increased nutrient inputs are two of the most crucial anthropogenic factors driving ecosystem change. Although both received considerable attention in previous studies, information on their interactive effects on ecosystem functioning is scarce. In particular, little is known on how soil biota and their functions are affected by combined changes in plant diversity and fertilization.Conclusions/SignificanceOur study highlights the role of plant species and functional group diversity as well as interactions between plant community composition and fertilizer application for soil microbial functions. Our results suggest soil microbial stoichiometry to be a powerful indicator of microbial functioning under N limited conditions. Although our results support the notion that plant diversity and fertilizer application independently affect microbial functioning, legume effects on microbial N limitation were superimposed by fertilization, indicating significant interactions between the functional composition of plant communities and nutrient inputs for soil processes.     

Vegetation feedbacks of nutrient addition lead to a weaker carbon sink in an ombrotrophic bog

To study vegetation feedbacks of nutrient addition on carbon sequestration capacity, we investigated vegetation and ecosystem CO₂ exchange at Mer Bleue Bog, Canada in plots that had been fertilized with nitrogen (N) or with N plus phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) for 7–12 years. Gross photosynthesis, ecosystem respiration, and net CO₂ exchange were measured weekly during May–September 2011 using climate‐controlled chambers. A substrate‐induced respiration technique was used to determine the functional ability of the microbial community. The highest N and NPK additions were associated with 40% less net CO₂ uptake than the control. In the NPK additions, a diminished C sink potential was due to a 20–30% increase in ecosystem respiration, while gross photosynthesis rates did not change as greater vascular plant biomass compensated for the decrease in Sphagnum mosses. In the highest N‐only treatment, small reductions in gross photosynthesis and no change in ecosystem respiration led to the reduced C sink. Substrate‐induced microbial respiration was significantly higher in all levels of NPK additions compared with control. The temperature sensitivity of respiration in the plots was lower with increasing cumulative N load, suggesting more labile sources of respired CO₂. The weaker C sink potential could be explained by changes in nutrient availability, higher woody : foliar ratio, moss loss, and enhanced decomposition. Stronger responses to NPK fertilization than to N‐only fertilization for both shrub biomass production and decomposition suggest that the bog ecosystem is N‐P/K colimited rather than N‐limited. Negative effects of further N‐only deposition were indicated by delayed spring CO₂ uptake. In contrast to forests, increased wood formation and surface litter accumulation in bogs seem to reduce the C sink potential owing to the loss of peat‐forming Sphagnum.