In order to study the effects of salt-cadmium coupling stress on seed germination and seedling growth of maize, a hydroponic experiment was applied. The results showed for the cadmium concentration treatments 0, 5, 10,20 and 40 mg/L, when the salinity increased from 0 g/L to 5 g/L, the germination potential decreased by 13%,17.8%, 19.0%, 6.0% and-5.1%, respectively; the germination rate decreased by 14.8%, 15.6%, 18.8%, 7.5% and 2.0%, respectively. When the cadmium concentration was 0, and the salinity increased from 0 g/L to 5 g/L, root fresh weight decreased from 0.275 g/plant to 0.058 g/plant, decreased significantly by 78.9%; shoot fresh weight decreased from 0.30 g/plant to 0.12 g/plant, decreased significantly by 60.0%; root/shoot ratio decreased from 0.94 to 0.31, decreased significantly by 67.0%. However, when cadmium concentration was 40 mg/L, there was no significant change in root fresh weight, shoot fresh weight and root/shoot ratio（α=0.05）. It can be concluded that salt and cadmium have an additive effect on maize seed germination and seedling growth. However, with the increase of cadmium concentration, the addition effect of salt stress decreased, and finally disappeared completely when cadmium concentration reached 40 mg/L. Therefore, it is suggested that the addition effect of the salinity of irrigation water source on the harm of cadmium must be considered in the safe use of moderate and low Cd polluted farmland.