Lead is widely used in everyday life, it has important physicochemical properties, and it is a very useful chemical element, abundant but dangerous. In plants, it has no physiological role and is a toxic element. To study the effect of this pollutant physiologically and chemically in bean (Vicia faba L.) plants, different doses of lead in the form of [Pb(NO 3 ) 2 ] (0, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 ppm) were added to the culture substrate consisting of sand and compost. The results of this study showed a reduction in relative water content (RWC) in dry weight and chlorophyll pigment content. The results also showed a significant reduction in sodium (Na) in the roots and stems. The presence of lead caused significant physiological and chemical disturbances.

Environmental stresses, in particular salinity and heavy metal pollution, constitute a real problem menacing our ecosystems with detrimental effects on crop production and biodiversity. The present work aims to study the combined effect of salt stress by different concentrations of sodium chloride "NaCl" (0, 100, 200 meq) and metallic stress by different concentrations of lead "Pb(NO3 )2" (0, 1000, 3000, 5000 ppm) on the sodium and potassium contents variations of the aerial and underground parts of Vicia faba L. plants. The results obtained show that increased salinity causes an important accumulation of sodium in Vicia faba L. plants; with preferential sequestration in the roots. However, potassium compartmentalizes in the plant leaves studied with decreasing levels in response to high concentrations of sodium chloride and lead in the culture medium.