Fig. 2: Comprehensive utilization and management patterns based on geographical partitioning and pollution classification.

Planting structure adjustments: Alternative cultivation of low-Cd-accumulating crops (excluding rice): Non-food economic crops including oilseeds, cotton, ornamental seedlings and facility-grown crops. Fallow and remediation during fallow: (1) Deep ploughing: Ideally scheduled during the autumn or winter to allow the soil to regenerate adequately before the next planting cycle or a period of fallow. The frequency of deep ploughing is not annual but is instead determined by the soil’s health and the specific needs of the crops, often occurring every few years. (2) Alternative cultivation of Cd-hyperaccumulators: Sorghum biomass. Demonstration of plant removal technology testing: These plants are harvested upon maturation, and the sections containing pollutants are disposed of properly. The duration required to significantly decrease soil contamination can range from months to years, a timeframe that is influenced by the initial contamination levels and the plant species’ capacity for pollutant accumulation. (3) Planting green manure: Green manure is flexible, occurring yearly or seasonally, and is tailored to the nutritional profile of the soil and the crop rotation scheme. Upon maturation, green manure is incorporated into the soil, followed by cultivation as necessary to enhance decomposition. These strategies are effective in mitigating soil degradation, reducing the incidence of pests and diseases, and managing Cd stress. Concurrently, they could improve soil health, food security, and ecological security, thereby reinforcing sustainable agricultural systems.