Salt stress reduced the removal efficiencies of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) by duckweed (Lemna minor). Salt stress inhibited duckweed growth and chlorophyll synthesis. Severe salt stress induced negative removal of N and P by duckweed. Duckweed with long-term cultivation suffered more injury under severe salt stress. L. minor is suitable for N and P removal in water with salinities below 50 mM NaCl or equivalent salt stress.