How land-use changes affect soil properties has long been a topic of discussion, and numerous studies have been conducted in various parts of the world. However, information on the effects of grassland degradation in semiarid regions and their conversion to conventional agricultural lands (particularly wheat and barley fields) is limited, as well as the long-term impact of converting these secondary lands to primary vegetation (grass) over a thirty-year period on soil quality and recovery. This study assessed the impact of land use/cover change on litter and soil characteristics in nine habitat types with different histories, including a primary grassland, a 30-year-old wheat field, a 15-year-old wheat field, a 30-year-old grassland previously used for wheat cultivation, a 15-year-old grassland previously used for wheat cultivation, a 30-year-old barley field, a 15-year-old barley field, a 30-year-old grassland previously used for barley cultivation, and a 15-year-old grassland previously used for barley cultivation, in the semi-arid mountainous regions of northern Iran. Thus, we collected 12 organic layer samples and 12 soil samples from three different depths (0-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm) in each of these habitats. We collected 108 organic layer samples (9 habitats & times; 12 replicates) and 324 mineral layer soil samples (9 habitats & times; 3 different depths & times; 12 replicates) that were sent to the lab for analysis. The results showed that the 30-year-old grassland where barley was grown had the litter with the highest organic carbon, while the primary grassland had the highest phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Degradation of the main grasslands caused an increase in soil bulk density and temperature, while porosity, soil aggregate stability, and moisture content decreased. Human activity and the conversion of grassland to cropland (wheat and barley) have significantly lowered the levels of soil fertility indices (total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity, and available forms of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium), microbial parameters (respiration and microbial biomass), fauna (earthworms, acarina, collembola, nematodes, and protozoa), and microflora (fungi and bacteria), especially in the surface soil layer. The results, on the other hand, show that after thirty years of abandoning cultivated land and converting it into primary vegetation cover, soil characteristics have not been fully restored. It is therefore advisable to use natural amendments (such as vermicompost, biochar, perlite, zeolite, and chitosan) to accelerate the soil regeneration process.