A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2013 under rainfed situations on Vertisols of Main Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, which is located in the northern transition zone of Karnataka at 15o26’ North latitude, 75o 07’ East longitude and at an altitude of 678 m above mean sea level. The maize crop was sown in five dates of sowing (June I FN, June II FN, July I FN, July II FN and Aug I FN) with three plant densities (66, 666, 83, 333 and 1, 11, 111 plants/ha). The shifting of sowing dates corresponds to fluctuations in temperature either lengthening or shortening of the growth periods. A progressive delay in sowing caused a decrease in grain yield and accumulated GDD. Similarly, the increase in plant density increased grain yield and accumulated GDD. Also, the maximum gross and net returns were recorded in early sowing of June 1st FN with the planting density of 1,11,111 plants per ha