Reporter genes include lux, gfp, lacZ, inaZ, luc, cat, xylE, uidA and so on, in which lux, gfp, lacZ and inaZ genes are the commonly used ones in the monitoring of soil quality. This review firstly compares the above-mentioned four kinds of reporter genes generally used in the monitoring of soil quality from different perspectives, and describes the definition, classifications, characteristics and feature of these reporter genes. This review also reveals the construction of the reporter gene expression system and its detection method, and then summarizes the application of the reporter gene technology in the monitoring of heavy metals, pollutants, nutrients and other chemical compounds in soil, and microbes or their activities, the interactions between soil microbes and protozoan as well as plants in soil, and finally discusses the limitations of the reporter gene technology, and the direction of research and development in the future.