This review article explores the advantages and mechanisms of mixing plant species in cropping systems, contrasting intensive monocultures with multispecies systems. It highlights the potential benefits of biodiversity in enhancing productivity, pest and disease control, ecological services, and economic profitability. The article discusses the conceptual frameworks from agronomy and ecology, emphasizing the need for new models and tools to understand and manage multispecies systems. Key concepts include competition, facilitation, aboveground and belowground interactions, and resource sharing. The review also examines methods for measuring multispecies system productivity, such as the Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) and Density Equivalent Ratio (DER), and the challenges in studying belowground processes. Finally, it addresses biological interactions, including weed control and pest management, and the role of allelopathy. The article concludes by proposing future research directions to enhance the design and management of sustainable multispecies cropping systems.This review article explores the advantages and mechanisms of mixing plant species in cropping systems, contrasting intensive monocultures with multispecies systems. It highlights the potential benefits of biodiversity in enhancing productivity, pest and disease control, ecological services, and economic profitability. The article discusses the conceptual frameworks from agronomy and ecology, emphasizing the need for new models and tools to understand and manage multispecies systems. Key concepts include competition, facilitation, aboveground and belowground interactions, and resource sharing. The review also examines methods for measuring multispecies system productivity, such as the Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) and Density Equivalent Ratio (DER), and the challenges in studying belowground processes. Finally, it addresses biological interactions, including weed control and pest management, and the role of allelopathy. The article concludes by proposing future research directions to enhance the design and management of sustainable multispecies cropping systems.