Ivana Koleška University of Banja Luka, Faculty of Agriculture, Republic of Srpska, BiH

Dino Hasanagić University of Banja Luka, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Republic of Srpska, BiH

Rodoljub Oljača University of Banja Luka, Faculty of Agriculture, Republic of Srpska, BiH

Senad Murtić University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, BiH

Borut Bosančić University of Banja Luka, Faculty of Agriculture, Republic of Srpska, BiH

Vida Todorović University of Banja Luka, Faculty of Agriculture, Republic of Srpska, BiH

 

Salinity is one of the most important ecological problems that affect irrigated agriculture in the world. Increased soil salinity inhibits plant growth through osmotic and ionic stress, but can also decrease availability of certain micronutrients. Copper is an essential metal for normal plant growth and development that participates in numerous biochemical and physiological processes and it is an essential cofactor for many metalloproteins. Copper concentration in two commercial tomato cultivars (grafted and non-grafted) was investigated under different levels of elevated soil salinity. Soil with EC 9.1 dS m-1 led to the highest copper deficiency, approximately by 37% in the non-grafted and 25% in the grafted tomato plants. The effect of a grafting technique is considered as an environmentally friendly tool for overcoming soil salinity problem.