Hydrological disturbance and soil salinization are the major abiotic stress factors limiting near-natural restoration of degraded wetlands in semi-arid regions. The soil seed bank (SSB) is crucial for plant diversity and wetland restoration. Although the responses of aboveground plant communities (APC) to hydrologicalsalinization interactions are well-documented, the mechanisms through which hydrological conditions and salinization affect the SSB remain unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of different hydrological conditions (drought, moist, flooded) and soil salinization degrees (no, mild, severe) on SSB characteristics and their relationship with APC through field survey. Results showed that salinization significantly reduced SSB species richness and seed density, with perennial seeds particularly affected by hydrological-salinization interactions. At the functional group level, while salinization reduced the seed density of both annual and perennial plants, perennials were uniquely affected by the hydrological-salinization interactions, with favorable moisture conditions mitigating the inhibitory effect of salinity. Similarity between SSB and APC compositions declined with increasing salinization, especially under drought conditions. Correlation and redundancy analyses indicated that SSB characteristics were positively correlated with nutrient indicators such as particulate organic carbon and total phosphorus, but negatively correlated with salinization indicators like pH and bulk density. Structural equation modeling revealed that salinization indirectly impaired the SSB mainly by elevating soil pH, reducing nutrient availability, and suppressing the APC. In contrast, hydrological conditions indirectly benefited the SSB by improving soil structure and enhancing the APC, which acted as a key mediator. This study elucidates the pathways of hydrological-salinization interactions on the SSB, providing a mechanistic understanding of SSB dynamics and a practical restoration blueprint (e.g., seasonal leaching and ecological water pulses). This study provides support for the near-natural restoration of degraded wetlands in the global in semi-arid regions.