Background: Intercropping, a diversified planting pattern is currently the subject of major global research, but uncertainty remains about the rhizosphere interaction of intercropped maize and peanut, which increases nitrogen uptake. We explored the changes in soil physicochemical properties, nutrient uptake and use, and microbial community structure in wide-strip intercropped maize and peanut. Results: The results from three treatments, sole maize (SM), sole peanut (SP) and intercropping of maize and peanut (IMP), showed that intercropping maize (IM) had a marginal advantage and that the nutrient content of roots, stems and grains in side-row maize was better than that of middle intercropping maize (MIM) and SM. And the yield of intercropped maize was higher than sole cropping. Compared with SM and SP, the soil nitrogen content (TN) in IM and intercropping peanut (IP) was lower and increased the soil enzyme activities of nitrate reeducates (NR) and peroxidase (POD), showing a significant negative correlation with soil TN. And decreased the soil enzymes activities of Pro and DHO, showing a positively correlation with soil TN. The diversity and richness of bacteria and fungi was decreased in IM rhizosphere soil, however, that richness of fungi was increased in IP rhizosphere soil. The RB41, Candidatus-udaeobacter, Stropharia, Fusarium and Penicillium were correlated with soil enzyme activity. In addition, intercropping enriched the functional diversity of bacterial community and reduced the pathogenic fungi. Conclusion: IMP changed the rhizosphere soil bacterial and fungal community structure and composition, enriched nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the IP rhizosphere soil, promoted the nitrogen content of IM and provided a scientific basis for promoting IMP in northeastern China.