Cengiz Kaya, Muhammad Ashraf, Sergey Shabala
Abstract Background Soil salinity is a major constraint to global agriculture, impairing ionic balance, nutrient acquisition, and water relations. This imposes significant economic penalties and threatens the sustainability of agricultural production systems. Aims This review synthesizes advances across multiple microbial groups, including plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), endophytes, extremophiles, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), cyanobacteria, and microalgae, to evaluate their role in rehabilitating salt-affected soils and strengthening crop resilience. Methods We analyzed recent evidence on the functional diversity of plant-associated microorganisms, focusing on the comparative efficacy of single versus multi-strain and cross-kingdom consortia. The review further examines case studies on synergistic approaches (e.g., AMF–cyanobacteria, microalgae–bacteria) and translational innovations such as nanocarrier encapsulation and AI-guided selection. Results Evidence indicates that microbial consortia outperform single inoculants by stabilizing rhizosphere microbiomes, enhancing nutrient cycling, and coordinating stress signaling. Specifically, synergistic applications reinforce redox regulation, ionic homeostasis, and pathogen defense under saline conditions. Furthermore, emerging bioformulation technologies and AI tools are shown to accelerate the effective application of these solutions in saline–alkali soils. Conclusions Integrating ecological mechanisms with biotechnological advances provides a roadmap for microbiome-informed precision agriculture. This review emphasizes that low-input and environmentally restorative strategies are essential for developing resilient cropping systems under increasing salinity pressures.