This paper introduced mechanisms of cadmium adsorption by soil, and effects of soil properties on them, which include soil pH, organic matter content, types and content of clay minerals, competitive cations, anions and soil temperature regime. Mechanisms of the increasing amount of cadmium adsorption with increase of pH, soil temperature and the contents of organic matter, iron and manganese oxide and clay minerals were reviewed. Coexisting competitive cations inhibited cadmium adsorption. Coexisting anions either inhibited or increased cadmium adsorption, depending on anions species and soil types.