The field experiments were done to illuminate the remediation mechanisms and effects of palygorskite on Cd (cadmium) polluted vegetable soils. The specific surface area, pore size distribution, X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of palygorskite, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) pattern of Cd adsorption product were characterized to analyze the mechanisms of Cd immobilization by palygorskite. The field trials investigated the influences of palygorskite on pH, CEC (cation exchange capacity), available Cd in soils, concentrations of Cd and sulfur compounds in plants, and enzymatic activity and microbial population in soils. The results showed palygorskite was a hydrated magnesia aluminum silicate clay mineral, with a micropore and mesopore distribution and a specific surface area of 135.7 m2/g. The available Cd in soils was reduced by 11.8%-49.0% after 0.5%-3.0% palygorskite application, accompanied by 9.3%-55.8% reduction of Cd in the shoot of the plant (p<0.05). The rise in pH of 0.06-0.90 units and maximum increase of 19.5% for CEC in treated soils were conducive to a decline in Cd availability in soils (p<0.05). The 21.8%–50.6% increase for GSH (glutathione) and 22.7%–44.6% for PCs (plant chelating peptides) in shoots were observed in treated soils to upgrade the ability of plants to resist Cd-induced oxidative stress. The changes in enzymatic activity and microbial number demonstrated the recovery of microbial functions that occurred in amended soils. The palygorskite application in a Cd polluted vegetable field was practicable in realizing the safety regulation of plants and the restoration of soil microbial function.