ABSTRACT Cadmium (Cd) contamination of fields has historically been a serious problem for agricultural production in China. Cd can accumulate in plants from the contaminated soil, polluting food and threatening human health. Straw return has proven effective for remediating Cd‐contaminated soil. This strategy minimises the generation of straw waste in landfills and straw burning, and promotes the development of the straw industry in China. This review first summarises the usual migration and transformation of Cd in agricultural soils. It then focuses on the effects of straw return on Cd migration and physicochemical properties in agricultural soils. We also discuss the factors influencing straw degradation and the effect of straw return on crop growth. The appropriate straw return method can reduce the absorption of Cd by crops, improve the nutrient supply of crops and support crop growth. Because most evidence indicates that straw return alone does not often effectively remediate soil from Cd contamination, exploring complementary straw return planting models, including adding biochar, conditioner and green manure, is necessary.