Phytoremediation in Saline Environments: The Functional Role of Halophytes in Soil Recovery—A Review

Soil salinization and contamination by potentially toxic elements (PTEs), hydrocarbons, and other pollutants represent interconnected environmental challenges, particularly in arid and coastal regions. Conventional remediation technologies are associated with elevated costs and environmental constraints, limiting their applicability in fragile saline environments. In this context, halophytic plants have emerged as promising biological tools for the phytoremediation of salt-affected and contaminated soils due to their adaptations to salinity stress. This review summarizes halophyte classification, salt-tolerance mechanisms, and their role in phytoremediation processes, including phytoextraction, phytostabilization, and phytodegradation. Particular attention is given to the interactions between salinity and contaminant mobility, highlighting the species-dependent effects of saline conditions on metal bioavailability and plant uptake. Evidence from both in situ and ex situ studies is discussed, emphasizing the advantages and limitations of halophyte-assisted remediation under saline conditions. Current evidence indicates that halophytes are generally more effective for phytostabilization and long-term risk mitigation than for rapid contaminant extraction. Overall, halophyte-based phytoremediation represents a sustainable strategy for the ecological rehabilitation of saline-degraded soils under increasing pressures associated with climate change and global soil salinization. Future advances integrating plant–microbe interactions, remote sensing technologies, and biomass valorization strategies may further enhance the implementation of halophyte-assisted remediation.