To select the most suitable Helianthus annuus variety for improving the soil quality of saline-alkali in Xinjiang, a pot experiment was carried out to study the effects of four H. annuus varieties (Xinkui 4, Xinkui 6, Xinkui 10, and Aidatou) on the physical and chemical property, enzyme activity, and functional diversity of microbial community in rhizosphere saline-alkali soil. The research draws the following conclutions:Xinkui 6 can significantly (P<0.05) reduce the pH of rhizosphere soil and increase its total nitrogen content as well as the activity of invertase. Xinkui 4 can significantly increase the available nitrogen content of rhizosphere soil, the content of rapid available phosphorus and potassium and the activity of urease and phosphatase. The four varieties of H. annuus can significantly increase the average well color development (AWCD) (72 h, P < 0.05) of 31carbon sources for rhizosphere soil microbes in saline-alkali land, and presenting the following order:Xinkui 4 > Xinkui 6 > Xinkui 10 > Aidatou > control (CK). The four varieties of H. annuus planted in saline-alkali soil improve the Shannon diversity index (H), simpson's dominance (D) and substrate richness (S) of soil microbial community, respectively, and presenting the similar rule:the diversity indices of rhizosphere soil microbial for Xinkui 4 are the highest, which are significantly higher than the lowest CK. A principal component analysis shows that the community composition of soil microbes can be improved by planting H. annuus. The major carbon sources utilized by saline-alkali soil microbes are carbohydrates, amino acids, carboxylic acids and polymers. Therefore, planting H. annuus, especially the variety of Xinkui 4, can significantly increase physical and chemical property of soil, enzyme activity and improve the functional diversity of rhizosphere soil microbes in saline-alkali land, coupled with the optimization of community structure in saline-alkali soil microbes.