Present study reports the results of three pot experiments, conducted to investigate the chelate-assisted phytoextraction of Pb contaminated soils. The optimum phytoextraction was observed when 2.5 mM ethylene diamine disuccinic acid (EDDS) was added in single dosage for 14 days to low Pb soil (treated with 400 mg kg(-1) soil). On the contrary, for high Pb soil (treated with 1200 mg kg(-1) soil), 5 mM EDDS concentration in single dosage for 10 days produced better results. Post-harvest effects of EDDS on the concentrations of available Pb and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were significantly higher as compared with check (CK i.e. without EDDS addition), and consequently decreased with the passage of time. Our results suggested that chelate-assisted phytoextraction was more suitable for slightly contaminated soils. (C) 2009 Elsevier BY. All rights reserved.