Abstract: A field experiment was conducted in 2012, including three planting pattern (maizesoybean relay strip intercropping, monocultured maize and soybean) and three nitrogen application level \[0 kg N·hm^-2, 180 kg N·hm^-2 (reduced N) and 240 kg N·hm^-2 (normal N)\]. Fields were assigned to different treatments in a randomized block design with three replicates. The objective of this work was to analyze the effects of planting patterns and nitrogen application rates on plant N uptake, soil N residue and N loss. After fertilization applications, NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^- -N levels increased in the soil of intercropped maize but decreased in the soil of intercropped soybean. Compared with monocrops, the soil N residue and loss of intercropped soybean were reduced, while those of intercropped maize were increased and decreased, respectively. With the reduced rate of N application, N residue rate, N loss rate and ammonia volatilization loss rate of the maize-soybean intercropping relay strip system were decreased by 17.7%, 21.5% and 0.4% compared to mono-cultured maize, but increased by 2.0%, 19.8% and 0.1% compared to mono-cultured soybean, respectively. Likewise, the reduced N application resulted in reductions in N residue, N loss, and the N loss via ammonia volatilization in the maize-soybean relay strip intercropping system compared with the conventional rate of N application adopted by local farmers, and the N residue rate, N loss rate and ammonia volatilization loss rate reduced by 12.0%, 15.4% and 1.2%, respectively.