Cadmium is a heavy metal that is toxic to plants. Essential elements are important for plant growth and development. The uptake of cadmium may take place in competition with essential elements. In the field, crops are routinely subjected to a combination of different abiotic stresses. Nutrient deficiency and cadmium stress represent an example of two different abiotic stress conditions that occur in the field simultaneously. In this review we discuss (1) mitigating effects of iron and potassium on cadmium stress in rice, (2) potassium and magnesium deficiencies protect rice seedlings against subsequent cadmium stress, and (3) nitrogen and calcium deficiencies enhance subsequent cadmium stress in rice seedlings.