Land with little to no utility for agriculture or industry is considered marginal land, frequently found at the edges of deserts or other arid regions. The area available for agriculture continues to be constrained by increasing desertification driven by climate change and the degradation of agriculturally marginal areas. Plants and their associated microorganisms can be used to remediate and enhance the soil quality of marginal land. Among various phytoremediation processes (viz., phytodegradation, phytoextraction, phytostabilization, phytovolatilization, phytofiltration, phytostimulation, and phytodesalination), the choice of mechanism is determined by soil condition, the presence and concentration of contaminants, and the plant species involved. These approaches represent low-cost, often long-term solutions for restoring soil fertility. This review focuses on key plant species used for phytoremediation, the challenges to plant growth and phytoremediation capacity, and the advantages and limits of plant growth in marginal-land soils. Plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) boost plant development and promote soil bioremediation by secreting a variety of metabolites and hormones, by fixing nitrogen, and by increasing the bioavailability of other nutrients through mineral solubilization. This review also emphasizes the role of PGPB under different abiotic stresses, including heavy-metal-contaminated land, high-salinity environments, and organic contaminants. Research results show that improving soil fertility on marginal lands through this approach can facilitate the reclamation of conventional agriculture as well as the restoration of native vegetation
