In order to explore the reasonable corn-edamame intercropping modes in red soil hilly areas, the corn (Zhengdan 958) and edamame (Zhexian 16) were used as experimental materials in 2022, then, four main treatments were set up, including corn monoculture (M), edamame monoculture (S), 2 rows of corn and 2 rows of edamame intercropping (2M2S) and 4 rows of corn and 2 rows of edamame intercropping (4M2S). Each main treatment was set up with 3 split treatments, including sowing edamame in 15 days before corn sowing (D1, 12 April, 2022), simultaneously sowing edamame and corn (D2, 27 April, 2022), and sowing edamame in 15 days after corn sowing (D3, 12 May, 2022). The changes in corn yield, edamame yield, edamame protein content, land equivalent ratio, and soil nutrient contents under different treatments were analyzed. The results showed that: compared with S mode, the fresh weight of pods per unit area of edamame under 2M2S was significantly increased by 20.8%. The earlier the sowing, the higher the fresh weight of pods. Both 2M2S and 4M2S were beneficial for improving the land equivalent ratio and economic benefits, their land equivalent ratios were 66% and 40% higher than S, respectively; Their economic benefits were increased by 1.32 times and 61.7%, compared to S. Moreover, the land equivalent ratio and economic benefit under 2M2S were significantly higher than those of 4M2S. The earlier the sowing date, the higher the land equivalent ratio and economic benefit. Compared with S, the protein content of 2M2S edamame was significantly increased, while there was no significant change in protein content among the three sowing periods. Different row ratios and sowing dates mainly significantly affected the contents of soil alkaline nitrogen and available potassium. Compared with M, soil alkaline nitrogen contents under 2M2S and 4M2S were increased by 37.6% and 22.6%, and their soil available potassium contents were increased by 22.0% and 5.4%, respectively. Among the three sowing periods, the earlier the sowing period, the higher soil alkaline nitrogen content. Therefore, in the hilly area of red soil, two rows of corn and two rows of edamame (2M2S) is beneficial for improving soil equivalence ratio, economic benefit, and significantly increasing soil alkaline nitrogen and available potassium contents, and between 12^th April and 12^th May, the earlier the edamame is sown, the more beneft and soil fertility.