Abstract:A field experiment on population quality of different maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes intercropped was conducted on the farm of Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China. The results showed that, compared with that in sole\|cropping treatment, mean leaf age of the middle leaves of HF9 and XD20 was lengthened in treatment of HF9 intercropping with XD20, while mean leaf age of the upper and lower leaves changed insignificantly. In treatment of ZD958 intercropping with LD981, mean leaf age of LD981 and that of the lower leaves of ZD958 were lengthened while that of middle and upper leaves shortened. No significant difference was observed in leaf area index (LAI) before silking between sole\|cropping and intercropping treatments. However, after silking, LAI of HF9 increased while that of XD20 decreased significantly. LAI of LD981 increased significantly while that of ZD958 decreased slightly. Population transmittance of maize was increased when compact\|plant\|type hybrids intercropped with semi\|compact\|plant\|type hybrids. Soil and plant analyzer development readings (SPADR) of the three\|ear\|leaves 10 days after silking of the four maize hybrids were increased in intercropping treatments. Net photosynthetic rate (Pn) for all the four hybrids except ZD958, in particular, increase in Pn of LD981 was significant. Dry matter accumulation (DMA) before silking in intercropping treatments changed slightly. After silking, DMA of semi\|compact\|plant\|type hybrids, HF9 and LD981, was increased while that of compact\|plant\|type hybrids, XD20 and ZD958, was decreased. Among them, increase in LD981 and decrease in ZD958 was significant. Meanwhile, harvest index and land equivalent ratio were enhanced in intercropping treatments. The results from this study suggested that quality of maize population was improved, leaf life span was lengthened, and leaf photosynthetic efficiency and grain yield were increased when compact\|plant\|type hybrids intercropping with semi\|compact\|plant\|type hybrids.