ABSTRACT Plant biostimulants are commercial products based on different chemical substances used to enhance plant growth and productivity. The effects of biostimulants, Megafol and Viva, with different dominant compositions (amino acids and humic acids) on two tomato cultivars (cv. Gravitet F1 and cv. Minaret F1) exposed to conventional and low-input macronutrient nutrition were investigated. Application of both biostimulants positively affected yield at conventional nutrition. In low-input nutrition variant, biostimulant application prevented yield loss only in cv. Minaret F1. Inter-cultivar differences were noticed in fruit characteristics (total phenol content, total flavonoids content and total antioxidative capacity) where application of biostimulants leads to opposite results in the examined cultivars. We considered the possibility of biostimulant usage as an effective nutritional addition for overcoming the problem of excessive fertilisation.

This study revealed the effects of pyrophyllite ore materials on heavy metals mobility in soil plots located near the steel mill in Zenica (Bosnia and Herzegovina). The experiment was set up in a randomized block design with four pyrophyllite treatment rates i.e. 0, 200, 400 and 600 kg ha in three replications. Analyses of the heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni, Cr, Pb, Cd) in soil and plant samples were performed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Pyrophyllite addition in soil was found to reduce the availability of all tested heavy metals in the studied soil. The pyrophyllite addition at a rate of 200 kg ha reduced Mn, Cu and Zn available forms in soil by 11.1, 20.4 and 11.2%, respectively, compared with control. The pyrophyllite addition at higher rates i.e. 400 and 600 kg ha had an even higher impact on the decrease in Mn and Zn mobility in studied soil in comparison with 200 kg ha. Additionally, these pyrophyllite rates have the ability to reduce Ni mobility in studied soil. The study also found a positive effect of all pyrophyllite treatments to reduce heavy metals accumulation in the leaves of potato grown on the studied soil. In sum, the results of this study indicate that pyrophyllite treatment could be an effective technique for improving the environmental quality of soils and alleviating the hazards of heavy metals to plants. However, further studies are necessary to confirm or denied this

Murtic, S., Sahinovic, E., Civic, H. & Jurkovic, J. (2020). Health risk from heavy metals via consumption of food crops grown on the soils in the vicinity of manganese mine. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 26 (2), 452–456 The objective of this study was to determine the content of heavy metals in the soils as well as in food crops in the vicinity of the manganese mine ‘Buzim’, and to assess the health risks of consumption of these plants on residents. Analyses of the heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Mn) in soils and plant samples was performed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and the health risks of food crops consummation was determined using a hazard quotient (HQ). The results of this study showed that the content of Mn and other examined heavy metals in soils and edible parts of onion, cabbage, raspberry and strawberry was lower than the permissible limits established by the legislation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These results lead to the conclusion that the consumption of food crops grown on soils at the examined area, from the point of view of heavy metals, should not be dangerous to human health.

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the possibility of the use of aluminosilicate minerals in order to maintain and improve soil productivity. The unique ion-exchange and adsorption properties of pyrophyllite minerals indicate the possibility of its application in agriculture as soil conditioner. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the application of pyrophyllite could reduce the use of mineral fertilizers in lettuce production without adverse effects on its yield and quality. The experiment was carried out from November 2018 to April 2019 inside a polyethylene covered greenhouse in Gornji Moranjci, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The following quality parameters were analysed using standard methods: ascorbic acid content, total phenolic content, total antioxidant capacity and content of potentially toxic heavy metals (Cr, Pb, Ni, Cu, Zn and Mn) in lettuce. The results of this study showed that the substitution of fertilizers with pyrophyllite in amount of 25% and 50% of recommended fertilizer rate under experimental conditions increase lettuce yield and total antioxidant capacity compared to the control treatment, i.e. 100% recommended fertilizer rate. The results of this study also support the hypothesis that pyrophyllite could be used as remediation material in polluted soils by heavy metals. However, further investigation is necessary to confirm these hypotheses across different soil ecosystems.

Summary The apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) possesses a number of health-promoting properties. The main beneficial effects of apple fruits on human health are associated with the antioxidant properties of components synthesising in apple fruits during their growth and development. Phenolic compounds and flavonoids are such components that contribute significantly to the antioxidant capacity of fruits, thus enhancing their health properties. The purpose of this study is to compare the antioxidant properties (namely antioxidant capacity, ascorbic acid, total phenolic and flavonoid contents) of the ‘Idared’ and ‘Braeburn’ apple cultivars, grown under optimal growing conditions in the Goražde area. Ascorbic acid contents were estimated using the 2.6-dichlorophenolindophenol titration method, whereas total phenolics were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Furthermore, total flavonoids were determined using the aluminium chloride colorimetric assay, whereas the ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay was used to determine the total antioxidant capacity of the apple fruits examined. The average values of the ascorbic acid, the total phenolic and flavonoids contents, and the total antioxidant capacity of the ‘Idared’ apples under consideration were 8.09 mg 100 g−1, 34.56 mg gallic acid equivalents 100 g−1, 12.62 mg catechin equivalents 100 g−1 and 323.28 μmol Fe2+ 100 g−1of fresh weight, respectively. The average values of the total phenolic and flavonoids contents, as well as the antioxidant capacity of the ‘Braeburn’ apples examined were as follows: 8.89 mg 100 g−1, 33.4 mg gallic acid equivalents 100 g−1, 13.56 mg catechin equivalents 100 g−1 and 367.01 μmol Fe2+ 100 g−1 of fresh weight, respectively. The analyses performed indicate that the differences recorded in the parameter values between the apple cultivars ‘Idared’ and ‘Braeburn’ were statistically non-significant. A correlation data analysis confirmed that phenolic compounds are the carriers of the antioxidant activity of apples.

Two commercial tomato cultivars were used to determine whether grafting could prevent decrease of Ca2+ concentration under salt stress conditions. The cultivars Buran F1 and Berberana F1 were grafted onto rootstock "Maxifort" and grown under three levels of the elevated soil salinity (S1 EC 3.80 dS m-1, S2 6.95 dS m-1 and S3 9.12 dS m-1). Ca2+ concentration of non-grafted plants of both examined hybrids was lower at all salinity levels in comparison to the control. In the fruits of grafted plants salt stress significantly decreased Ca2+ concentration only at the third salinity level (EC 9.12 dS m-1). The possibility of grafting tomato plants to improve influx of Ca2+ under salt stress conditions is discussed.

Heavy metal contamination is one of the most important issues regarding the pollution of agricultural soils. Among heavy metals, cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni) are of great concern, because they are toxic to organisms at low concentrations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of Cr, Cd, Pb and Ni in a greenhouse soil-plant system under intensive cucumber production. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse located at the Srebrenik municipality, in the north-eastern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry was used to determine the concentrations of Cr, Cd, Pb and Ni in soil and plant samples. The concentration of total Cr and Ni in the examined greenhouse soil was higher than the permissible values established by the legislation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, while concentrations of Cd and Pb did not exceed the permissible values determined by the same legislation. The concentration of available forms of all examined heavy metals in the tested soil as well as in edible parts of the cucumber was low regardless. These results indicate that the assessment of total heavy metals concentration in soils (to the contrary of the assessment of their available forms) is generally deficient in providing reliable information on the contamination of soil by heavy metals, and thus the suitability of such soils for cucumber production.

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.

Three commercial apple cultivars ('Jonagold', 'Granny Smith' and 'Idared') and the local apple cultivar ('Prijedorska Zelenika') from Bosnia and Herzegovina were analysed by HPLC-MS for the content of phenolic compounds in peel and pulp as well content of individual sugars and organic acids. Catechin, (-)-epicatechin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, quercetin 3-O-xyloside, quercetin 3-O-arabinoside, quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside, quercetin 3-O-rutinoside, quercetin 3-O-galactoside and quercetin 3-O-glucoside were identified in apple peel and (-)-epicatechin, chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid in apple pulp at all observed cultivars. The total sugars content of analysed apple cultivars ranged between 91.61 and 105.45 g kg-1 FM, while the total organic acids content was from 5.70 to 15.05 g kg-1 FM. The levels of total organic acids and sugars, glucoce/fructose ratio and sugar/acid ratio were affected by cultivars. The mean content of total phenolic compounds was between 427.92 and 1457.95 mg kg-1 FM in peel and from 113.58 to 439.83 mg kg-1 FM in pulp and depending upon the cultivars. The presented data clearly demonstrated that traditional apple cultivar ('Prijedorska Zelenika') had significantly higher individual phenolic compounds in pulp in comparison to the commercial cultivars, i.e., 'Idared', 'Jonagold' and 'Granny Smith' and with respect of that 'Prijedorska Zelenika' is recommended as raw material for cloudy juice processing.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of Mn in ‘soil - raspberry’ system on the area around the manganese ore deposits Radostovo in Bužim municipality. Atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to determine the concentration of Mn in soil and plant samples. Fe, Zn and Cu concentration in soil and raspberry plants was also subject of analysis, since these elements have antagonistic relationship with Mn in soils. The concentration of available Mn in soils was low, although the total Mn in the same soils exceeded the Mn toxic values noted in the scientific literature. The chemical and physical properties of the examined soils characterized by a relatively high pH value and good ability to store root-zone air certainly contributed to the decreasing release of available Mn2+ from manganese oxides in soils as well as Mn2+ oxidation to insoluble Mn3+ or Mn4+ ions, resulting in low uptake of Mn by plant roots. The results of study also showed that the absorbed Mn mostly accumulates in leaves and roots of raspberry, and much less in the stem and fruits. That rule in Mn distribution within raspberry plant is in fact identical to all food crops.

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of calcium fertilizer treatments on fruit quality and distribution of calcium in apple fruit (Malus domestica Borkh. cv. Idared). Four treatments were tested: application of calcium nitrate through the fertigation system, foliar application of calcium nitrate, application of calcium oxide through soil, and control treatment (without calcium fertilizer). In the experiment, freshly picked apples harvested in Gorazde region (eastern Bosnia) in September 2018 were analyzed. The highest impact to increase calcium content in apple had a treatment where calcium nitrate was added through the fertigation system. It was the result of the balance between calcium and nitrogen in the applied solution as well as the fertigation capacity to timely deliver nutrition to the main rooting zone. Calcium distribution was not uniform within the fruit: the highest content was found in the apple core, decreasing in the apple flesh, and rising again in the apple skin, regardless of fertilizer treatment. There was no difference among calcium fertilizer treatments in total soluble solids and titratable acidity of apple, indicating that these treatments were insufficient in order to improve the examined parameters of fruit quality.

The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the phytoextraction potential of three main wild plant species: annual nettle (Urtica urens L.), daisy fleabane (Stenactis annua (L.) Ness.) and yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.) that grow spontaneously in heavy metal contaminated areas near the thermal power station in Kakanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Analyses of the heavy metal content (Ni, Fe, Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Mn) in soil and plant samples taken from the examined area were performed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results obtained revealed that the examined soils are polluted by Ni and Pb and contain relatively high value of Cr and Fe. Annual nettle, daisy fleabane and yarrow have not shown high efficiency in the absorption and accumulation of heavy metals from polluted soils, and therefore these plants are not be considered as potential phytoremediators of soils on the examined area. Furthermore, the results of the study undoubtedly confirm the fact that the total content of heavy metals in soils is not a sufficient parameter for estimating the toxicity of heavy metals in soils and consequently for their transfer and accumulation in plants.