| Summary: | Three experiments of associated cropping of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and maize were carried out at two localities in the Zona da Mata area, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Bean cultivars of different growth habits and maize plant populations that varied from 20 to 60 thousand/ha were used. In the first experiment 60 thousand bean seeds were planted per hectare, sowed simultaneously with the maize in the same rows. In the other experiments 250 thousand bean seeds were planted per hectare, between the maize rows, when this crop had begun to dry. In both types of associated cropping it was observed that the maize yield was not affected by the beans. Beans, however, suffered strong competition from the maize, principally when planted simultaneously with the higher maize populations. The climbing bean gave the poorest yields when planted simultaneously with maize because an appropriate support was lacking, but gave the best yields in the other system of crop association. Despite the low bean yields, the associated cropping permitted a more efficient use of the land and a higher profit per hectare
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