 Abstract plant susceptibility to salt depends on several factors from its genetic make-up to modifiable physiological and biochemical status. Lemongrass, Simbapagon flexuosis, was treated with Chytosan oligomers, COS, to assess the potential benefits of this compound on plant growth and essential oil productivity under salinity stress. The application of COS alleviated photosynthetic constraints and increased enzymatic antioxidant defence, which minimised salt-induced oxidative damage. This led to improved stomatal conductance and photosynthetic carbon dioxide assimilation, supporting overall plant development. Additionally, COS-induced salt resilience suggested that COS could become a useful biotechnological tool in reclaiming saline soil for improved crop productivity, especially when such soil is unfit for leading food crops. Furthermore, considering its additional economic value in the essential oil industry, lemongrass treated with COS can be considered an excellent alternative crop for saline lands.