Based on the geochemical data of Se, Cd and other elements of 2 027 rice-soil samples in the typical areas of southern Jiangsu Province, this paper discussed the antagonism and controlling factors of Se and Cd in farmland soils by statistical analysis of element correlation and distribution characteristics such as biological enrichment coefficient (BCF). The results showed that:1) The distributions of Se and Cd in soils had obvious characteristics of co-fluctuation, and significant positive correlation existed between the two elements (correlation coefficient r=0.87). 2)Rocks, ceramic raw materials, river mud and so on could be the substance sources of Se and Cd enrichment in farmland, and Cd enrichment was usually stronger than Se enrichment. Only Se-enriched soils derived from Se-enriched rocks could eliminate the interference of Cd pollution and produce natural Se-enriched foods. 3)BCFs of Se and Cd in rice were mostly between 0.1 and 0.8, alkaline soil was beneficial for rice seeds to absorb Se and acid soil was beneficial for rice seeds to absorb Cd. Under the influence of soil Se and Cd co-enrichment, rice could simultaneously be Se-enriched while Cd-excessed. 4)Soil Se-enrichment inhibited Cd uptake in rice under certain conditions, when soil Se concentration > 0.4 mg/kg and total organic carbon >15 g/kg, significant negative correlations existed between rice Cd concentration and soil Se concentration (r=-0.74), and between rice Cd BCF and soil Se concentration (r=-0.56), significant negative correlations also existed between soil pH and rice Cd BCF (r=-0.79), and between soil total organic carbon and rice Se BCF (r=-0.65).