Gu et al. (2011) investigated the root distribution of some rice cultivars under varied water and N conditions and found that the root growth and distribution could be optimized by adjusting N application and irrigation regime.
Wang et al. (2011) repored that root vigor tended to be decreased by water stress to a higher extent in plants with low NUE compared with those with high NUE on root characteristics, N, and water use efficiency in maize.
The morphology and spatial distribution of maize cultivars with high NUE are more optimized for having deeper growth, which was beneficial for uptaking water and nutrients from soil and delaying the aging process.