The unreasonable development and utilization of soil by human beings had led to increasingly prominent soil problems，which seriously threatened the quality of cultivated land and food security in China. In recent years，the research and development of soil conditioners had received extensive attention due to their functions of improving soil structure，reducing soil salinity hazards，adjusting soil pH，improving soil moisture status or repairing polluted soil. This research reviewed the development of soil conditioners，summarized the functions and types of soil conditioners，the registration and development status of soil conditioners in China，summarized the effects of soil conditioners on improving soil structure，adjusting soil acidification，reducing soil salinization，repairing polluted soil and improving soil water retention and supply capacity，and analyzed the existing problems and future development directions of soil conditioner application at this stage，with a view to providing theoretical basis for the research and development，scientific application and promotion of soil conditioners.