Root growth and yield responses to nitrogen levels in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) cultivation: balancing nutrient efficiency and productivity

Our findings indicate that while reduced N application significantly enhanced root growth, resource allocation varied between low and moderate-N treatments. The moderate-N treatment achieved a balance, supporting both increased root development and yield. In contrast, the low-N treatment enhanced root growth and NUE but did not translate into higher yield. This suggests that N-induced root system plasticity is critical in optimizing nutrient uptake efficiency and ensuring balanced resource allocation for both root and shoot development, as demonstrated by the moderate-N treatment.