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A field experiment was conducted in 2012, including three planting pattern (maize-oybean 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 monocrops, 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 monocultured 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 maizesoybean 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]