Soil nitrogen (N) turnover in saline soils is largely unknown, and investigations of N losses from such soils have yielded conflicting findings. A meta-analysis was thus employed to explore the influence of salinity on soil N₂O and NH₃ emissions, and N leaching potential (P_Nr, the proportion of NO₃^- to total inorganic N). Results indicated that increasing salinity significantly increased soil NH₃ emissions, except during experiments longer than 14 d under low salinity (ECe<4-12 dS m^-1). Salinity effects on soil N₂O emissions decreased by 30-82% at medium salinity (ECe = 12-16 dS m^-1) over periods shorter than 14 d, and increased by 90-177% at high salinity (ECe>16 dS m^-1). P_Nr decreased by 36-68% at high salinity. Soil pH, organic carbon, total and inorganic N also had significant influences on N₂O and NH₃ emissions, and P_Nr. Hence, salinity levels have significant direct effects on N losses, simultaneously, indirectly influencing N turnover by altering soil properties. In brief, N losses from saline soils mainly derive from N₂O and NH₃ emissions, and more attention should be given to understanding the transformation of N forms and the involved mechanisms for better N management in saline soils.