The study aims to explore the growth and physiological response of Cyperus esculentus under different concentrations of natural saline-alkali stress, and reveal the saline-alkali tolerance mechanism and ability of C. esculentus. In this experiment, ‘Zhongyousha No.1’ was used as the test material, physiological metabolic indexes, such as growth and development, osmotic regulation substances, malondialdehyde (MDA) and protective enzyme activities of C. esculentus, were observed by collecting and mixing natural saline-alkali soil and farmland soil at the ratio of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%, respectively. The results showed that with the increase of saline-alkali stress intensity, chlorophyll synthesis was blocked, plant height, tiller number, bean number, total grain weight and biomass decreased significantly. The content of proline, soluble sugar, soluble protein and malondialdehyde all showed an increasing trend, and increased significantly under 75% saline-alkali soil ratio. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased first, reached the maximum under 50% saline-alkali soil ratio and then decreased. The growth of C. esculentus was inhibited under natural saline-alkali stress, and seedling emergence stage and tillering stage were significantly delayed. With the rise of saline-alkali stress degree, cell membrane lipid peroxidation increased gradually, but C. esculentus could alleviate the salt stress by increasing SOD activity in the plant. At the same time, C. esculentus under saline-alkali stress could adjust the accumulation of proline and soluble sugar to enhance water absorbing capacity of plants from the environment, so as to improve the adaptability of plants to saline-alkali stress.