The stocks and its change mechanism of soil carbon pool in grassland are the core of grassland ecosystem carbon cycle research. Grassland are undergoing serious disturbance, such as land-use change, nitrogen input (nitrogen decomposition and fertilization), elevated CO₂ and global warming. Strengthening the research in responses of grass soil organic carbon pool to the disturbance is of great importance. Here we reviewed the effects of grazing, grassland cultivation, and external nitrogen input on soil organic carbon pool including soil active carbon fraction and their responses to global change. The main research directions in this field in the future were also suggested.