Aspects of the water use of Cannabis sativa L. under dryland cultivation in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Zenani, Kamva Trevor Songo
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Cannabis , Water consumption , Large aperture scintillometer , Cannabis Water requirements , Dry farming South Africa Eastern Cape , Evapotranspiration
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465035 , vital:76567
- Description: Cannabis spp is one of the oldest cultivated plants, with its origin in Asia. It has two species, namely C. indica and C. sativa. This research focuses on C. sativa, which is widely cultivated locally and globally. C. sativa has a wide range of uses, including industrial, medicinal, religious, and recreational. This study will be focusing on the water use of medicinal and recreational C. sativa grown under dryland conditions. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in increasing its cultivation, but there are reports of it having high water usage. The global interest has led many governments to review the laws governing this plant as it is a controlled substance in many countries. Due to its legal status, there is a dearth of knowledge about its growth and water use. It is against this backdrop that the Water Research Commission (WRC) commissioned this study into the water use of this plant. This will provide evidence-based support for the issuing of water use licenses by the Department of Water and Sanitation. The Eastern Cape and KwaZulu Natal have many small-scale legacy farmers who have been growing C. sativa illegally for decades. The findings of this research will seek to fill some of these knowledge gaps and assist legacy farmers in the cultivation of this plant. This research had four approaches, which include 1) planting the crop in a dryland location that will mimic the conditions experienced by legacy growers, 2) the collection of plant biophysical variables in the study site in order to gain a better understanding of the plant’s health, growth, progress, and to use these variables to parameterize a mechanistic eco-physiological model, 3) the installing of a large aperture scintillometer (LAS) together with a micro-meteorological station to measure the evapotranspiration (ET) and meteorological parameters over a crop cycle, 4) to use MEDRUSH evapotranspiration model to predict the ET and compare these results against that of the LAS. The results show that water provision had a significant impact on plant biophysical variables and water use. The plants received 154 mm (2 mm day-1) of rain during the crop cycle. The large aperture scintillometer recorded a total ET of 126.8 mm (1.76 mm day-1) during the same period. The MEDRUSH model (2.5 mm day-1) overestimated the LAS ET (1.79 mm day-1), and the results from the daily ET revealed that C. sativa had higher daily ET when compared to the local grass Eragrostis plana. These results confirm that at this location in the Eastern Cape, C. sativa requires regular irrigation during the growing season to grow and secure a crop. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Institute for Water Research, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
- Authors: Zenani, Kamva Trevor Songo
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Cannabis , Water consumption , Large aperture scintillometer , Cannabis Water requirements , Dry farming South Africa Eastern Cape , Evapotranspiration
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/465035 , vital:76567
- Description: Cannabis spp is one of the oldest cultivated plants, with its origin in Asia. It has two species, namely C. indica and C. sativa. This research focuses on C. sativa, which is widely cultivated locally and globally. C. sativa has a wide range of uses, including industrial, medicinal, religious, and recreational. This study will be focusing on the water use of medicinal and recreational C. sativa grown under dryland conditions. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in increasing its cultivation, but there are reports of it having high water usage. The global interest has led many governments to review the laws governing this plant as it is a controlled substance in many countries. Due to its legal status, there is a dearth of knowledge about its growth and water use. It is against this backdrop that the Water Research Commission (WRC) commissioned this study into the water use of this plant. This will provide evidence-based support for the issuing of water use licenses by the Department of Water and Sanitation. The Eastern Cape and KwaZulu Natal have many small-scale legacy farmers who have been growing C. sativa illegally for decades. The findings of this research will seek to fill some of these knowledge gaps and assist legacy farmers in the cultivation of this plant. This research had four approaches, which include 1) planting the crop in a dryland location that will mimic the conditions experienced by legacy growers, 2) the collection of plant biophysical variables in the study site in order to gain a better understanding of the plant’s health, growth, progress, and to use these variables to parameterize a mechanistic eco-physiological model, 3) the installing of a large aperture scintillometer (LAS) together with a micro-meteorological station to measure the evapotranspiration (ET) and meteorological parameters over a crop cycle, 4) to use MEDRUSH evapotranspiration model to predict the ET and compare these results against that of the LAS. The results show that water provision had a significant impact on plant biophysical variables and water use. The plants received 154 mm (2 mm day-1) of rain during the crop cycle. The large aperture scintillometer recorded a total ET of 126.8 mm (1.76 mm day-1) during the same period. The MEDRUSH model (2.5 mm day-1) overestimated the LAS ET (1.79 mm day-1), and the results from the daily ET revealed that C. sativa had higher daily ET when compared to the local grass Eragrostis plana. These results confirm that at this location in the Eastern Cape, C. sativa requires regular irrigation during the growing season to grow and secure a crop. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Institute for Water Research, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
Discipline and dismissal of employees For testing positive for cannabis
- Authors: Syce, Donato Burchelle
- Date: 2024-04
- Subjects: Occupational health , Cannabis , Substance use
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63071 , vital:73184
- Description: Employers are legally obligated to provide a safe working environment for all employees. They are permitted to enforce rules that regulate the use of cannabis, including a total prohibition thereof in the workplace. Most employers adopt a policy with a zero-tolerance approach to substance abuse in the workplace, especially considering the negative effects of substances. Cannabis is regarded as a drug and the effects of cannabis may negatively affect the health of employees. In most instances, users develop cognitive impairment which may result in decreased working memory function. Therefore, employers must test employees when they suspect that an employee have contravened a workplace policy. There are various tests that can be used to detect THC, the preferred method for testing employees is a urine test. Upon testing an employee, the test may show a positive result for the previous use of cannabis, but it does not determine the level of impairment. However, employers are still required to take the necessary disciplinary action against employees. In the following chapter, I shall discuss the judicial approach towards employees who have tested positive for cannabis. , Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law,(2024)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-04
- Authors: Syce, Donato Burchelle
- Date: 2024-04
- Subjects: Occupational health , Cannabis , Substance use
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63071 , vital:73184
- Description: Employers are legally obligated to provide a safe working environment for all employees. They are permitted to enforce rules that regulate the use of cannabis, including a total prohibition thereof in the workplace. Most employers adopt a policy with a zero-tolerance approach to substance abuse in the workplace, especially considering the negative effects of substances. Cannabis is regarded as a drug and the effects of cannabis may negatively affect the health of employees. In most instances, users develop cognitive impairment which may result in decreased working memory function. Therefore, employers must test employees when they suspect that an employee have contravened a workplace policy. There are various tests that can be used to detect THC, the preferred method for testing employees is a urine test. Upon testing an employee, the test may show a positive result for the previous use of cannabis, but it does not determine the level of impairment. However, employers are still required to take the necessary disciplinary action against employees. In the following chapter, I shall discuss the judicial approach towards employees who have tested positive for cannabis. , Thesis (LLM) -- Faculty of Law,(2024)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-04
An ethnomedical study of the role and impact of cannabidiol (CBD) treatment of women living with endometriosis and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
- Authors: Norman, Paige Sarah
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Polycystic ovary syndrome Alternative treatment , Endometriosis Alternative treatment , Cannabidiol , Cannabis , Pain management , Traditional medicine , Feminist anthropology , Women's health services
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/408652 , vital:70513
- Description: Over the last few years, there has been a notable increase in popularity in the use of cannabidiol (CBD) as a form of alternative medicinal treatment for various illnesses. CBD, a by-product of the cannabis plant, is an isolate and does not contain the psychoactive agent, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Endometriosis and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) are chronic reproductive health sicknesses that are increasingly experienced by women. In the absence of cures, biomedical treatment for these diseases aim to manage symptoms, for example; heavy bleeding, heightened levels of pain, and insomnia. CBD offers an alternative to women who feel that biomedical interventions are no longer able to maintain their health and well-being. CBD positions itself as a natural remedy claiming to be safe and effective. This research study, mainly through qualitative data collection, focused on experiences of Zimbabwean and South African women living with endometriosis and/ or PCOS, who have turned to CBD to manage their symptoms. The importance of this study was to position itself within patients’ lived experiences. The research study found that CBD indeed has numerous benefits, including pain management, alleviating stress, and anxiety. Through the emergent themes from the data, it became clear that women are marginalised and treated unequally in the biomedical healthcare sphere. Feminist Anthropology and Structural Violence was applied to analyse the data collected to explore the patriarchal nature of the biomedical healthcare system and the experiences that women have, which has led them to turn to alternative treatments. , Thesis (MSocSci) -- Faculty of Humanities, Anthropology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
- Authors: Norman, Paige Sarah
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Polycystic ovary syndrome Alternative treatment , Endometriosis Alternative treatment , Cannabidiol , Cannabis , Pain management , Traditional medicine , Feminist anthropology , Women's health services
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/408652 , vital:70513
- Description: Over the last few years, there has been a notable increase in popularity in the use of cannabidiol (CBD) as a form of alternative medicinal treatment for various illnesses. CBD, a by-product of the cannabis plant, is an isolate and does not contain the psychoactive agent, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Endometriosis and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) are chronic reproductive health sicknesses that are increasingly experienced by women. In the absence of cures, biomedical treatment for these diseases aim to manage symptoms, for example; heavy bleeding, heightened levels of pain, and insomnia. CBD offers an alternative to women who feel that biomedical interventions are no longer able to maintain their health and well-being. CBD positions itself as a natural remedy claiming to be safe and effective. This research study, mainly through qualitative data collection, focused on experiences of Zimbabwean and South African women living with endometriosis and/ or PCOS, who have turned to CBD to manage their symptoms. The importance of this study was to position itself within patients’ lived experiences. The research study found that CBD indeed has numerous benefits, including pain management, alleviating stress, and anxiety. Through the emergent themes from the data, it became clear that women are marginalised and treated unequally in the biomedical healthcare sphere. Feminist Anthropology and Structural Violence was applied to analyse the data collected to explore the patriarchal nature of the biomedical healthcare system and the experiences that women have, which has led them to turn to alternative treatments. , Thesis (MSocSci) -- Faculty of Humanities, Anthropology, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
In vitro effects of endogenous and exogenous cannabinoids on insulin resistance and secretion
- Authors: Gallant, Megan
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Cannabinoids , Cannabis , Insulin resistance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10324 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1076 , Cannabinoids , Cannabis , Insulin resistance
- Description: Type 2 diabetes mellitus results from a combination of insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of endogenous and exogenous cannabinoids on insulin resistant cell lines, viz skeletal muscle (C2C12) and fat (3T3-L1), and to investigate the effects of these cannabinoids on insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells (INS 1). Insulin resistance was induced in the cells using 20 ng/mL TNF-α (3T3-L1) and 100 nM insulin (C2C12). Insulin resistant cells were exposed to cannabinoids for 48 hours after which glucose uptake, RT-PCR and Western blot analysis was performed. Additionally, adipokine assays were performed on the 3T3-L1 cells. The insulin resistant 3T3-L1 and C2C12 cells had reduced glucose uptake, decreased IRS-1 and Glut-4 expression indicative of an insulin resistant state. The extract and THC significantly enhanced glucose uptake, IRS-1 and Glut-4 in 3T3-L1 and C2C12 cells. The extract and THC thus have the potential to be an insulin sensitizing agent. Interleukin-6 was significantly decreased by THC. INS 1 cells, cultured under normoglycemic conditions, were exposed to cannabinoids for 48 hours after which glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, radioimmunoassay, oxygen consumption, RT-PCR and Western blot analysis was performed. Insulin stimulatory index was not significantly affected after cannabinoid exposure, except by THC. The cannabinoids decreased insulin content, in a concentration dependent manner, but the inhibition mechanism remains elusive. The cannabinoid Treated cells showed insulin gene expression levels similar to the control, while only THC proved effective in significantly stimulating Glut-2 gene expression. Oxygen consumption studies showed levels lower than the control cells. Most of the cannabinoids inhibited insulin secretion under normoglycemia except THC, while the cannabinoids exhibited the potential to improve insulin resistant adipocyte and myocytes response to glucose and gene regulation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Gallant, Megan
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Cannabinoids , Cannabis , Insulin resistance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10324 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1076 , Cannabinoids , Cannabis , Insulin resistance
- Description: Type 2 diabetes mellitus results from a combination of insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of endogenous and exogenous cannabinoids on insulin resistant cell lines, viz skeletal muscle (C2C12) and fat (3T3-L1), and to investigate the effects of these cannabinoids on insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells (INS 1). Insulin resistance was induced in the cells using 20 ng/mL TNF-α (3T3-L1) and 100 nM insulin (C2C12). Insulin resistant cells were exposed to cannabinoids for 48 hours after which glucose uptake, RT-PCR and Western blot analysis was performed. Additionally, adipokine assays were performed on the 3T3-L1 cells. The insulin resistant 3T3-L1 and C2C12 cells had reduced glucose uptake, decreased IRS-1 and Glut-4 expression indicative of an insulin resistant state. The extract and THC significantly enhanced glucose uptake, IRS-1 and Glut-4 in 3T3-L1 and C2C12 cells. The extract and THC thus have the potential to be an insulin sensitizing agent. Interleukin-6 was significantly decreased by THC. INS 1 cells, cultured under normoglycemic conditions, were exposed to cannabinoids for 48 hours after which glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, radioimmunoassay, oxygen consumption, RT-PCR and Western blot analysis was performed. Insulin stimulatory index was not significantly affected after cannabinoid exposure, except by THC. The cannabinoids decreased insulin content, in a concentration dependent manner, but the inhibition mechanism remains elusive. The cannabinoid Treated cells showed insulin gene expression levels similar to the control, while only THC proved effective in significantly stimulating Glut-2 gene expression. Oxygen consumption studies showed levels lower than the control cells. Most of the cannabinoids inhibited insulin secretion under normoglycemia except THC, while the cannabinoids exhibited the potential to improve insulin resistant adipocyte and myocytes response to glucose and gene regulation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
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