Background and aims <p>Straw application and drip irrigation are effective practices for amelioration of saline soils, but their coupling effects on plant-soil-microbial interactions in coastal farmland remain understudied. Here, we analyzed changes in the root zone environment of wolfberry (<i>Lycium barbarum</i> L.) grown in a saline farmland soil with straw application and drip irrigation to unravel their role in regulating crop yield and quality performance.</p> Methods <p>A soil box experiment was conducted for 120&#xa0;days, with wheat straw buried at the 30&#xa0;cm soil depth and drip irrigation applied at three different levels (800, 1600, and 2400 m³·hm⁻²).</p> Results <p>Straw application alleviated water and salt stresses in the plant root zone. In addition to increasing fungal diversity (Chao 1), straw application altered the composition and function of rhizosphere microbial communities. This was indicated by the enrichment of actinobacteria, plant growth-promoting rhizobacterial genera (<i>Sphingomonas</i>, <i>TM7a</i>, <i>Pseudoxanthomonas</i>, <i>Devosia</i>), carbon- and nitrogen-cycling bacterial groups (related to chemoheterotrophy, chitinolysis, ureolysis, nitrogen fixation), and mycorrhizal fungi (endomycorrhizae, ectomycorrhizae), with suppression of pathogens. Both new shoot length and fruit yield notably increased under medium and high irrigation levels. In particular, medium irrigation resulted in the highest proportions of mycorrhizal fungi and carbon- and nitrogen-cycling bacteria, enhancing nutrient accumulation in soils (nitrogen, phosphorus) and fruits (polysaccharides, betaines, carotenoids).</p> Conclusions <p>Straw application with a medium level of drip irrigation is the optimal regime for saline soil amelioration in coastal farmland, taking into account plant-soil-microbial feedbacks and water resource input.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>