Abstract Background This study aimed to determine the litterfall production, accumulation, decomposition rate and nutrient stocks, and to estimate the soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks in three palm swamp ecosystems with different land use intensities in the Southeast of Brazil. Methods Three palm swamp ecosystems with different land use intensities were evaluated: Agua Doce (AD), conserved area; Capivara (CV), area with small agricultural practices; and Buriti Grosso (BG), area with an intensive land use. Produced and accumulated litterfall from the Cerrado areas surrounding the palm swamps were collected from October 2014 to September 2015, and the Ca, Mg, K, and P concentrations were determined in the dry and rainy seasons. Soil samples were collected in the surrounding Cerrado and within the palm swamps until 100 cm soil depth to determine bulk density and soil C and N contents and stocks. Results Annual litterfall production in the Cerrado surrounding palm swamps was similar in AD (3.58 Mg·ha^{− 1}·year^{− 1}) and CV (3.79 Mg·ha^{− 1}·year^{− 1}), and was lower in BG (2.84 Mg·ha^{− 1}·year^{− 1}), and was more intense during the dry season. Furthermore, litterfall accumulation was higher in CV (7.12 Mg·ha^{− 1}·year^{− 1}) and BG (6.75 Mg·ha^{− 1}·year^{− 1}), culminating in lower decomposition rates. AD showed the highest decomposition rate (0.60) due to its vegetation structure and conservation. The macronutrient contents from the production and accumulated litterfall had a low influence of the land use, decreasing in the following order: Ca > K > Mg > P. Soils in CV and BG palm swamp areas showed higher values of C and N contents, due to the use of land for agricultural crops and cattle raising in an extensive (rangeland) system. The BG palm swamp, showed the highest C (124.03 Mg·ha^{− 1}) and N (10.54 Mg·ha^{− 1}) stocks due to the land use history with different agricultural practices over time. Conclusions The litterfall dynamics in the Cerrado surrounding palm swamps was more affected by climatic variables than the intensity of land use, but the litter decomposition was more accelerated in the conserved area. Anthropic interventions with soil organic matter (SOM) inputs contributed to an increase in soil C and N stocks in the palm swamp ecosystems.