Purpose of Review <p>Global agricultural soils face severe degradation, with widespread issues like cadmium (Cd) contamination. Integrated strategies are required to concurrently remediate soil pollution and enhance soil fertility. This review aims to elucidate the effects and underlying mechanisms of green manuring on both the Cd bioavailability and soil quality in contaminated farmland under different environment and management factors.</p> Recent Findings <p>A meta-analysis of 50 recent peer-reviewed publications showed that green manuring is an effective practice for enhancing soil quality and mitigating Cd bioavailability. Compared to fallow, green manuring increased the soil quality index (SQI) and crop yield by 19.1% and 19.6%, respectively, while concurrently reducing crop Cd and soil available Cd (Avail-Cd) by 37.6% and 12.4%. Random forest analysis revealed that soil properties collectively influenced soil quality and Avail-Cd. Furthermore, SQI showed significant negative correlations with crop Cd, Avail-Cd, and exchangeable Cd. The efficacy of green manuring in reducing crop Cd was more pronounced in paddy fields than in dryland systems. Mechanistically, green manuring promoted soil Cd immobilization in both the two systems, but in paddy systems, the induction of iron-manganese plaque on root surfaces plays a critical and distinct role in suppressing Cd uptake.</p> Summary <p>Meta-analysis revealed that green manuring reduced Cd bioavailability by improving soil health. The background soil Cd concentration and soil organic matter content were the key factors affecting the effects of green manuring on controlling Avail-Cd and improving SQI. Overall, green manuring is an effective and potential pathway for safe crop production in Cd-contaminated fields.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>