The primary challenge of mineland revegetation is the establishment of species able to cope with low availability of nutrients, especially in steep slopes such as of mine pits. We evaluated plant growth response and nutrient use efficiency (NUE) of two promising native Fabaceae species (Dioclea apurensis-liana from metalliferous savannas;Bauhinia longipedicellata-tree from Amazon rainforest) from the Carajas Mineral Province, eastern Amazon-Brazil. Plants were grown separately in 2-kg pots filled with mining waste. Substrates were fertilized with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium (NPK), lime, and micronutrients. The results showed increments on growth of both species when nutrients were applied to the mining waste.D. apurensisshowed increases in leaf area, plant height, stem diameter, and shoot dry mass production when NPK or NPK + micronutrients were applied, whileB. longipedicelatawas responsive to application of NPK + lime or NPK + lime + micronutrients. Further,D. apurensisshowed higher NUE thanB. longipedicelata, especially at the lowest doses of N, P and K. These findings may indicate a substantial advantage ofD. apurensisfor mineland revegetation, as this species may require lower nutrient inputs, being, therefore, a more sustainable way to revegetate degraded areas.