Abstract:[Background] Saline-alkali land is an important land resource in China. Using microorganisms to improve soil environment and promote plant growth has become a research focus in recent years. [Objective] A strain of saline-tolerant growth-promoting bacteria was selected from rice root soil in the saline-alkali land in Daqing, Heilongjiang. This study is expected to provide elite strain resources for the development of microbial agents suitable for rice growth in the saline-alkali land of Northeast China. [Methods] Saline-tolerant microbial strains were screened by microbial isolation and culture. These strains were subjected to colony morphology observation, physiological and biochemical tests, growth curve determination, and 16S rRNA gene identification. The multifunctional identification media were used to evaluate the phosphorus solubilization, siderophore production, amylase production, and salt-alkali tolerance of the target strain. The disease resistance of the strain was tested by the plate confrontation method. The abilities of the strain to produce extracellular polymetric substance (EPS) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and reduce alkali were examined. Furthermore, the rice growth-promoting effect of the strain was evaluated by rice seed germination and water culture experiments. [Results] A saline-alkali tolerant strain J-009 was screened from the rice root soil in the saline-alkali land in Daqing. The strain was rod-shaped and Gram-positive, with white and wrinkled colonies. The strain reached its growth peak 12 h after inoculation, survived within the range of pH 8.0–10.0, and showed tolerance to the maximum salt (NaCl) concentration of 5%. Strain J-009 was capable of solubilizing inorganic phosphorus and organophosphorus and producing siderophores, amylase, and H2S. It can utilize glucose, arabinose, and sorbitol but cannot utilize sucrose or maltose. The reactions of peroxidase, urease, and cellulase were all positive. Strain J-009 was identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis as Bacillus halotolerans, with the GenBank accession number PV635949. Strain J-009 had a certain inhibitory effect on rice blast. This strain showed the EPS production of (0.581±0.083) g/g, the IAA secretion of (12.39±0.66) mg/L, and the alkali-reducing capacity of 13.9%. Compared with the control group, the strain J-009 treatment significantly increased the root length and plant height of rice seedlings. [Conclusion] Strain J-009 demonstrated good saline-alkali tolerance and plant growth-promoting effect, and it could effectively promote the growth of rice in saline-alkali environment. The findings lay a foundation for the microbial improvement of saline-alkali soil and the development of microbial agents in the future.