**1. Introduction**

The cropping system is growing of crops on an area interacting with resources and time and intercropping system is raising of two or more crops simultaneously in the same piece of land [1, 2]. This a common practice in developing countries and it is mostly practiced by small and marginal famers. In tropical world, intercropping is prominently visible with food grain cultivation, whereas in temperate countries forage based intercropping is very much common [3]. Intercropping is generally practiced on small farms with limited resources and it has been observed to enhance yields with greater stability in a variety of crop combinations. Moreover, intercropping system is known by less use of inputs, namely, fertilizers, plant protection chemical, and thus healthy, safe, and high quality food under ecologically sound production system. On-farm biodiversity is also promoted by diversification of crops in through mixed cropping, intercropping and agroforestry systems resulting in variation of diet and net return, higher level of production stability, proper utilization of limited resources human labour-force under low levels of technological intervention [3] and all these ultimately lead to achieve production sustainability in agriculture.

Maize (*Zea mays* L.), also termed as 'corn' and 'queen of cereals', is the third most important cereal of the world, ranks at third position amongst the cereals after rice and wheat and it is a member of Poaceae family. The very cereal has been a staple food for many people in Mexico, Central and South America and parts of Africa. In Europe and rest of the North America, maize is grown mostly as animal feed. Maize is widely cultivated throughout the world having a production of 1147 million tonnes [4]. In various cropping systems as well as in intercropping maize can be fit due to its wider adaptability in different seasons and agro-climatic conditions. Maize is a widely spaced crop and offers ample scope for adoption of intercropping and combination of maize legume in intercropping benefits the agricultural production system by many ways with enhancement of productivity from unit area [2]. This chapter focuses on different aspects of maize based intercropping system, such as considerations, advantages and limitations.
