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Cadmium (Cd) is considered the primary dietary toxic element. Previous studies have demonstrated significant differences in heavy metal accumulation among crop species. However, this information in karst areas with low heavy metal activity is missing. In this study, the uptake and accumulation characteristics of cadmium in soil–crop samples of group 504 in the core karst region of East Asia were analyzed. Cadmium low-accumulating maize and rice were screened using cluster and Pareto analytic methods. In addition, a new method, the species–sensitive distribution model (SSD), was proposed, which could be used to estimate the environmental threshold for cadmium in regional cropland. The results showed that both maize and rice soils in the research area were contaminated with varying degrees of cadmium. The total concentrations of cadmium ω (T–Cd) in maize and rice fields are 0.18–1.32 and 0.20–4.42 mg kg–1, respectively. The ω (T–Cd) of heavy metals in maize kernels and rice grains is 0.002–0.429 and 0.003–0.393 mg kg–1, respectively. The bioaccumulation factor (BCF) of cadmium in maize ranged from 0.0079 to 0.9701, with a coefficient of variation of 1.71; the BCF of cadmium in rice ranged from 0.0074 to 0.1345, with a coefficient of variation of 0.99. According to cluster and Pareto analyses, the maize crop varieties with low cadmium accumulation suitable for local cultivation were screened as JHY809, JDY808, AD778, SN3H and SY13, and the rice varieties were DMY6188, GY725, NY6368, SY451 and DX4103. In addition, the environmental cadmium threshold ranges of 0.30–10.05 mg kg–1 and 0.89–24.39 mg kg–1 for maize and rice soils, respectively, were deduced in this study. This threshold will ensure that 5–95% of maize and rice will not be contaminated with cadmium in the soil. [Display omitted] • Differences in cadmium accumulation among different cereal varieties in karst areas were investigated. • Five rice and maize varieties with low cadmium accumulation were separately screened. • The SSD model is a new method for determining soil environmental thresholds. • Environmental thresholds of different grains help to reduce over- or underprotection of soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]