In this study the domestic and foreign literatures were collected on the effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) application in saline-alkali land from 1990 to 2021. The impacts of PGPR application on soil salinization, physical and chemical indexes, crop yield and quality were assessed by Meta analysis method from the aspects of soil salinization degree, PGPR inoculation method and PGPR strains. The results show that PGPR reduces soil pH and EC, and significantly increases soil fertility (available P, available K, available N, total N, organic matter), chlorophyll content, plant antioxidant enzyme activity, yield and quality. Compared with moderate and mild saline-alkali conditions, PGPR inoculation under severe saline-alkali conditions has more significant effects on plant yield and quality improvement, in which crop yield, carotenoid, soluble protein and soluble sugar contents are increased by 36.3%-57.4%, 31.0%-62.5%, 37.8%-60.9% and 37.9%-68.6%, respectively. Besides, soil inoculation is more advantageous than seed inoculation in increasing yield. Compared with other PGPR, Pseudomonas have better effect on reducing soil salinization, and soil pH and EC are decreased by 5.2%-9.5% and 7.3%-23.0%, respectively. Inoculated with Bacillus increases the yield, carotenoid, soluble protein, and soluble sugar contents by 36.5%-54.0%, 30.0%-49.5%, 26.0%-64.5% and 23.0%-37.7%, respectively. The results of structural equation model indicate that PGPR inoculation reduce soil salinity and improve soil fertility and crop physiological indexes, resulting in increases of crop yield and quality.