Land use changes, mainly shift from natural ecosystems into managed agro ecosystems, and subsequent deterioration in quality of soil resources have become common phenomena in North western Ethiopia. Soil reaction (pH), soil organic carbon, total N and available P contents are some of the vital soil properties affected by such changes. This study was therefore conducted at Balarb watershed in Ebinat District of South Gondar zone, Ethiopia to evaluate the effect of land use change from grazing land to cropland on soil organic carbon and total nitrogen content. A total of 45 and 12 soil samples were taken from the depths of 0–10, 11–20 and 21–30cm from cropland and grazing lands respectively with soil core sampler for the determination of soil organic carbon and total nitrogen content. The results showed that sand, silt, clay, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and available P were significantly affected (P ≤ 0.05) by land use and soil. High percentage mean values of sand and silt contents were recorded from the surface of the cropland (CL) while the lowest was from the subsurface (21-30cm) of the grazing land (GL). The high percentage of clay was recorded from the subsurface (21-30cm) of GL and the lowest was from the surface of CL. Relatively high (1.23g/cm3) mean Bulk density (BD) was obtained from the surface of the GL and relatively lower (1.07g/m3) BD from the surface of CL. The higher (34.2%) soil moisture content was obtained from the subsurface of the GL and the lower moisture content (21.8%) was recorded from the Subsurface (21-30) of the CL. The relative higher soil pH (H 2 O) (6.96) was obtained from the subsurface (21-30 cm) of CL and the lowest value (6.56) was from the surface of GL. Relatively high TN (0.18%) and SOC (1.99%) contents were recorded on the surfaces soil layer of GL while the lower TN (0.10%) and SOC (0.95%) were recorded from the subsurface soil layer of CL. The higher available P contents (19.44 mg/kg) was recorded from the CL while the lowest (10.81 mg/kg) was recorded from the Surface soil layer of grazing land. The soil organic carbon content was relatively well maintained in the grazing land, whereas interventions to restore the Soil organic carbon base of the cropland is needed. There should be actions like reducing the intensity of cultivation, using more organic matter input, alternative cultivation practices and applying organic fertilizers to increase the soil organic carbon content of the study area.