In this paper, the effects of organic and chemical fertilizers on plant growth, diurnal variation of photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence in leaves of mulberry grown in saline-alkali soil were investigated. The results showed that organic and chemical fertilizers applied to mulberry had a significant influence on plant growth and photosynthetic characteristics. Organic fertilizers applied to mulberry grown in saline-alkali soil were more efficient than that of chemical fertilizer to improve mulberry growth. Organic fertilizer not only increased above-ground plant growth of mulberry, but also ratio of root and shoot obviously, which indicated that organic fertilizer could promote the growth of mulberry root. Organic fertilizer improved photosynthetic capacity in leaves of mulberry grown in saline-alkali soil by increasing daily photosynthetic accumulation and efficiency of primary conversion of light energy to ensure activity of PSⅡ reaction centers and alleviate photo inhibition at noon. Transpiration rate and stomatal conductance in leaves of mulberry during one day treated with organic fertilizers were higher than that of chemical fertilizers to insure carbon assimilation. And in leaves of mulberry treated with organic fertilizers leaf temperature and leaf curling degree at noon reduced, and capacity of light energy capture and utilization increased.