Relay intercropping of maize with common dry beans to rationalize nitrogen fertilizer

Maize ( Zea mays L.) and dry beans Phaseolus vulgaris are important staple food cash crops worldwide. Common bean in an intercrop with maize contributes to biological nitrogen fixation, which stabilize productivity of cropping systems reduce negative environmental impacts loss biodiversity for sustainable agriculture. A field experiments was performed during the years 2020 2021 at Sers El-Layian Station, northern Egypt. The current study aiming effect three sowing dates maize, represent 3 co-growth duration [T1: flowering stage (FS) common (60 days duration), T2: 15 after FS (45 T3: 30 (30 beans)] N fertilizer levels (N1: 190.4, N2: 238.0, N3: 285.6 kg N/ha maize) on productivity, profitability rationalization. longest intercropping (T1) significantly P ≤ 0.05) decreased yields compared T2 T3. Performance did not show any variation under different maize. Significant increase yield its components raising level up N3. Although there no significant when applied N2 N3, however, use efficiency (NUE) higher than N3 by 18.34%. Regardless planting time combined increased intercropped system as cleared total land equivalent ratios (LER) area (ATER). Highest LER value 1.99 observed shortest period T3 followed 1.97 N2. Positive values actual index (AYL) indicated advantage. Different competition indices showed a greater dominance over (aggressivity, Ag; competitive ratio, CR; losses, AYL). However, economic advantage (intercropping index, IAI monetary MAI) monoculture. These results imply that shortening (T3) applying 238.0 relay reduced mineral 16.67% advised along per unit advantages small-farmer.