**3.1 Crop**

**Table 4** displays the effect of the factors plot (Villacañas or Quero), treatment (SS, CS and CF) and plot-treatment interaction on the studied parameters. Spike length, spike weight, and number of grains per spike were significantly influenced by the plot where the crop was grown (Villacañas or Quero), and by treatment (CF, SS or CS). This did not occur with weight of grains per spike and, consequently, with yield. The plot-treatment interaction was not significant in any case.

A simple factorial ANOVA based on the treatment received (**Table 5**) showed that the type of treatment in Villacañas affected all the studied parameters, except for spike weight.

In Quero, only spike length and spike weight were influenced by treatment. No significant differences were observed in either number of grains per spike or weight of grains or yield.


#### **Table 4.**

*P-values for plot (A): Villacañas, Quero; treatment (B): CF, CS, SS; interaction (A)-(B) for average spike length, average spike weight, average number of grains per spike, average total weight of grains per spike and average yield.*

### *3.1.1 Average spike length*

In Villacañas (**Table 5**), no significant differences appeared between SS and CS, and these treatments led to a somewhat longer length (5.47 cm and 5.51 cm, respectively) than with CF (5.09 cm).

In Quero (**Table 5**), spike length was longer than that obtained in Villacañas for all the treatments, and was significantly longer than that achieved by applying SS and CS (6.22 cm and 6.12 cm, respectively) in relation to that achieved when applying CF (5.95 cm).

#### *3.1.2 Average spike weight*

In Villacañas (**Table 5**), a statistically significant increase in the average spike weight was observed in the plants grown with SS (1.41 g) compared to those grown with CS (1.25 g) or CF (1.28 g).

In Quero (**Table 5**), like spike length, spike weight was also heaiver than in Villacañas. Weight improved with SS (1.68 g) and with CS (1.66 g) compared to the plants grown with CF (1.49 g).

## *3.1.3 Average number of grains per spike*

In Villacañas (**Table 5**), similarly to average spike weight, the average number of grains per spike was SS (20 grains) than in those plots where CF or CS was applied (18 and 17 grains, respectively).

In Quero (**Table 5**), the same occurred for this parameter as in Villacañas. It was in the subplots with SS and CS where the number of grains per spike was significantly bigger (24) than for the other treatment CF (22). Likewise, it was noteworthy that the number of grains per spike in the Quero plot was always bigger than that obtained in the Villacañas plot, where 20 grains per spike were never exceeded.

#### *3.1.4 Average total weight of grains per spike*

In Villacañas (**Table 5**), and following the same line as the previously mentioned parameters, the average total weight of grains per spike was significantly heavier (0.84 g) in the subplots with SS than in those where CS (0.72 g) or CF (0.75 g) was applied.

In Quero (**Table 5**), barely any differences were observed with the Villacañas plot, a trend observed of a slightly increased total weight of grains per spike. In this plot with the compost application, a statistically significant heavier average total weight of grains per spike was recorded (0.86 g).

**161**

**Treatment**

> Villacañas

P-value

CF SS CS

> Quero

P-value

CF SS CS

*\*Significant differences.*

**Table 5.**

5.95 ± 0.70a 6.22 ± 0.76b 6.12 ± 0.78ab

5.09 ± 0.75a 5.47 ± 0.88b 5.51 ± 0.85b

0.0269\*

0.0002\*

**Average spike length (cm)**

**Average spike weight (g)**

0.0099 1.28 ± 0.56a 1.41 ± 0.60b 1.25 ± 0.60a

0.0166\* 1.49 ± 0.50a 1.68 ± 0.47b 1.66 ± 0.53b

**Average number of grains per spike**

0.0376\* 18 ± 7a 20 ± 7b

17 ± 7a 0.1497 22 ± 7a 24 ± 7b 24 ± 7a *P-values and average ± standard deviations of average spike length (cm), average spike weight (g), average number of grains per spike, average total weight of grains per spike (g) and average* 

*yield (kg ha−1). Distinct letters mean groups with significant differences at P < 0.05 among treatments for the same study plot according to the LSD test.*

**Average total weight of grains per spike (g)**

0.0336\* 0.75 ± 0.33a 0.84 ± 0.37b 0.72 ± 0.37a

0.1297 0.76 ± 0.36a 0.83 ± 0.33ab 0.86 ± 0.34b

*Sewage Sludge to Fertilise Durum Wheat: Effects on Crop and Soil*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95896*

**Average yield (kg ha−1)**

0.0336\* 2994 ± 1337ab

3371 ± 1481b 2884 ± 1476 a

0.1297

3056 ± 1437a

33171 ± 1311ab

3423 ± 1357b


**Table 5.** *P-values and average ± standard deviations of average spike length (cm), average spike weight (g), average number of grains per spike, average total weight of grains per spike (g) and average yield (kg ha−1). Distinct letters mean groups with significant differences at P < 0.05 among treatments for the same study plot according to the LSD test.*

#### *Sewage Sludge to Fertilise Durum Wheat: Effects on Crop and Soil DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95896*

*Humic Substances*

*\**

**Table 4.**

*average yield.*

*3.1.1 Average spike length*

*Significant differences.*

ing CF (5.95 cm).

*3.1.2 Average spike weight*

with CS (1.25 g) or CF (1.28 g).

plants grown with CF (1.49 g).

(18 and 17 grains, respectively).

*3.1.3 Average number of grains per spike*

*3.1.4 Average total weight of grains per spike*

weight of grains per spike was recorded (0.86 g).

tively) than with CF (5.09 cm).

**FACTOR Spike** 

**length**

**Spike weight**

PLOT (A) 0.0000\* 0.0000\* 0.0000\* 0.0972 0.0972 TREATMENT (B) 0.0000\* 0.0131\* 0.0329\* 0.0594 0.0594 A-B 0.2607 0.1613 0.1568 0.0672 0.0672

**Number of grains per spike**

**Weight of grains per spike** **Yield**

In Villacañas (**Table 5**), no significant differences appeared between SS and CS, and these treatments led to a somewhat longer length (5.47 cm and 5.51 cm, respec-

*P-values for plot (A): Villacañas, Quero; treatment (B): CF, CS, SS; interaction (A)-(B) for average spike length, average spike weight, average number of grains per spike, average total weight of grains per spike and* 

In Quero (**Table 5**), spike length was longer than that obtained in Villacañas for all the treatments, and was significantly longer than that achieved by applying SS and CS (6.22 cm and 6.12 cm, respectively) in relation to that achieved when apply-

In Villacañas (**Table 5**), a statistically significant increase in the average spike weight was observed in the plants grown with SS (1.41 g) compared to those grown

In Quero (**Table 5**), like spike length, spike weight was also heaiver than in Villacañas. Weight improved with SS (1.68 g) and with CS (1.66 g) compared to the

In Villacañas (**Table 5**), similarly to average spike weight, the average number of grains per spike was SS (20 grains) than in those plots where CF or CS was applied

In Quero (**Table 5**), the same occurred for this parameter as in Villacañas. It was in the subplots with SS and CS where the number of grains per spike was significantly bigger (24) than for the other treatment CF (22). Likewise, it was noteworthy that the number of grains per spike in the Quero plot was always bigger than that obtained in the Villacañas plot, where 20 grains per spike were never exceeded.

In Villacañas (**Table 5**), and following the same line as the previously mentioned parameters, the average total weight of grains per spike was significantly heavier (0.84 g) in the subplots with SS than in those where CS (0.72 g) or CF (0.75 g) was

In Quero (**Table 5**), barely any differences were observed with the Villacañas plot, a trend observed of a slightly increased total weight of grains per spike. In this plot with the compost application, a statistically significant heavier average total

**160**

applied.
