The study area is located in the arid desert area of Gansu Province, Jingtai Baidunzi Salt Marsh Wetland, in the transition zone from Tengger Desert to the Loess Plateau, and belongs to the temperate arid continental climate. To assess species diversity and collect vegetation and soil samples, zones of fenced exclusion, light grazing, and heavy grazing were established. Indicators such as plant diversity and soil physical and chemical properties were measured. Principal component analysis and the construction of a principal component grouping minimum data set (MDS) were employed to examine the influence of grazing intensity on soil quality. Results indicate that while fenced exclusion increased vegetation biomass, it decreased diversity. In the light grazing zone, the Shannon-Wiener diversity index and Margalef richness index were 11.11% and 17.86% higher, respectively, than in the heavy grazing zone, and 51.52% and 6.45% higher than in the fenced exclusion zone. The percentage of soil water-stable aggregates with particle size >0.25 mm, the average mass diameter, and the geometric mean diameter of surface soil water-stable aggregates, were highest in the no grazing zone, followed by the light grazing and heavy grazing zones. The soil fertility potential, soil fertility intensity, and overall soil quality were significantly higher in the no grazing zone compared to the heavy grazing zone. In conclusion, fenced exclusion enhances vegetation growth and soil quality, while light grazing positively impacts soil and vegetation restoration. Grazing primarily affects the shallow soil layer, providing a scientific basis for rational grazing and ecological restoration of wetlands in arid desert area.