摘要：The study was carried out to evaluate the productivity of maize - soybean intercropping system and to identify the best combination that maximize productivity of the system. Maize hybrid (BH540) at 44,444 plants ha-1 and three soybean varieties (AFGAT, Awassa-95 and Crawford) in a factorial combination of three planting densities (25%, 50% and 75%) of the recommended population density of soybean with the respective sole of each variety of component crops were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Sole cropped maize grain yield (3189.80 kg ha-1) was non-significantly greater than intercropped (2753.70 kg ha-1) by means of 13.67%. Soybean seed yield of 1993.61 and 747.48 kg ha-1 was obtained from sole and intercropped soybean, respectively. In all combinations, LER was greater than one justified that a yield advantage of (14-32%) and (6-28%) as depicted by LER 1.14-1.32 and 1.06 -1.28 due to varieties and planting densities, respectively. Generally, as LER was superior in all intercrops evaluating that the productivity of maize-soybean intercropping showed a higher relative yield advantage of 32% over sole cropping. The GMV of the intercrops was increased with an increase in planting density of soybean. Furthermore, the GMV of intercrops (ETB 12176.00 per ha) was greater by means of 41.05% over sole cropped maize whilst lower than that of soybean sole cropped GMV by ETB 3772.90 per ha or 23.66%. However, MA had not significantly varied due to varieties and planting densities and cropping system. In additive intercropping system, maize intercropped with Awassa-95 at 50% planting density showed a yield advantage of 23.71% over sole cropped maize.
