A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of maize plant geometry, row proportion and time of planting on maize-lucerne intercropping system at Main Research Station, Dharwad during kharif 2000.  The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications.  Paired row planting of intercroppped maize recorded significantly higher grain yield (56.81 q ha-1) over 60 cm x 30 cm spacing.  Sole maize with paired row planting recorded maximum grain yield (62.00 q ha-1).  Simultaneous planting of maize with lucerne recorded significantly higher grain yield (53.32 q ha-1) over staggered planting of maize (44.70 q ha-1).  Higher total green forage yield of lucerne (87.15 q ha-1) was obtained in 60 cm x 30 cm spacing of maize at 1:2 row proportion with staggered planting.  Paired row planting of maize simultaneously with lucerne at 1:1 row proportion gave significantly higher net returns and B:C ratio (Rs.23,637 ha-1 and 2.99, respectively) compared to sole maize with 60 cm x 30 cm spacing (Rs.22,123 ha-1 and 2.85, respectively).  Intercropping of paired row maize simultaneously with one row of lucerne gave maize grain yield of 62.50 q ha-1 and additional lucerne green forage yield of 19.57 q ha-1.