We experimentally produced moderate water stress that reduced leaf, stem, root and fruit biomass of peppers, and severe nitrogen (N) limitations that almost stopped their development. Root/shoot ratios (R/S) were higher in N-limited plants. Low water availability (and also low N availability) produced lower stomatal conductance (g,). Specific leaf mass was higher and chlorophyll (Chl) concentration was lower under low N-availability. The same experimental conditions produced smaller differences among treatments in beans (with N-fixing symbionts). Water stress increased its relative importance as shown by the induced increase in root/shoot ratio. N stress was less important as shown by the absence of effects on Chl concentrations and g^. Both peppers and beans responded to limited availability of nitrogen and water by allocating to structures involved in uptake (roots), by longer organ duration, and by increasing the efficiency of N and water use.