RESUMO
Pot experiments were carried out to study the effects of lead [Pb] on growth of Amaranth, Chinese Amaranth and Spinach. Six levels of Pb [0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 mg kg [-1]] were used in the pot experiments. Lead application in soil significantly decreased the number of leaves plant [-1] of Amaranth, Chinese Amaranth and Spinach. Shoot height and root length of the tested vegetables crops were also significantly decreased by Pb application except for root of spinach. The present decline in shoot height at 100 mg Pb kg[-1] soil treatment as compared to the control was about 57, 75 and 47% for Amaranth, Chinese Amaranth and Spinach, respectively. The reduction of root length of Amaranth and Chinese Amaranth was 34 and 59%, respectively at the highest rate of Pb application from that of the control. In general, a gradual decrease in shoot and root biomass of all the crops with increasing rates of Pb application was observed. Shoot and root biomass of amaranth were reduced by 49 and 45% respectively with 100 mg Pb kg[-1] soil treatment over control. The corresponding reductions for Chinese Amaranth were 27 and 48% and for Spinach were 39 and 45%, respectively