Grazing exclusion affects soil and plant communities, but has no impact on soil carbon storage in an upland grassland

► Grazing exclusion might have positive effects on C sequestration in upland ecosystems. ► After 7-years, grazing exclusion changed plant functional groups and slowed down soil N dynamics. ► Grazing exclusion increased litter, but had no effect on soil C. ► Grazing management offers opportunities to manage other ecosystem services.