5. Conclusions
Dense grass-legume mulch cover formed over 5-years of revegetation created a buffer zone between soil and atmospheric temperature and helps retain soil moisture content. Legume with low biomass C:N ratio favor rapid N mineralization conversely, high C:N ratio of grass biomass reduces N leaching by enhancing microbial N uptake and synergistically contributing balanced mineralization of N in the soil. Soil fertility in terms of SOM, SOC, N, microbial biomass, and enzyme activity was significantly increased after 5-years of grass-legume revegetation that are close to the natural forest soils. Growth of grass-legume mixture also enhanced the microbial activity, SOC and N stocks, and doubling the rate of CO2 flux in 5-years. Field-scale reclamation of waste dumps requires a massive amount of mulch and often impractical to import. Therefore, we recommend grass-legume revegetation, as they provide sufficient shoot and root biomass and subsequent mulch stock over time. In conclusion, this study shows that legume (S. hamata ) is compatible with grass (P. pedicellatum ) species affecting above and below ground soil systems during revegetation, increase nutrient concentrations, and accelerates recovery of soil fertility.