A field experiment was conducted during North East Monsoon season of 2002 and 2003 at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore to study the productive and economically viable integrated rainwater and nitrogen management practice for dryland maize under different rainfall situations. It is concluded that for early withdrawal of rainfall around 45 DAS, two supplemental irrigations given at tasseling and silking stages through run off recycling from farm pond increased growth, yield parameters, grain yield by 134 percent and net returns by Rs.3389 ha -1 over rainfed maize in 2002. For moisture stress at tasseling and soft dough stages, two supplemental irrigation increased growth, yield attributes, grain yield by 88 percent and net return by Rs. 3305 ha -1 over rainfed maize in 2003. Application of 40 kg N ha -1 with intercropping and incorporation of either sunnhemp or cowpea at 45 DAS increased yield and net returns of maize over sole maize with out inorganic nitrogen.
