A SHORT NOTE ON WATER-USE AND PRODUCTION POTENTIAL OF LASIURUS-SCINDICUS HENR IN THE THAR DESERT OF RAJASTHAN, INDIA

Over a 4-year period from 1990-93, Lasiurus scindicus Hem. in the Thar desert at Jodhpur produced 2955 to 3587 kg ha(-1) of forage dry matte r at rainfall varying from 182 to 775 mm. The grass (Leaf area index = 1.33) intercepted 33 to 54% of insolation. Water use of the grass var ied from 144 to 271 mm and water-use efficiency varied from 13.2 to 20 .8 kg DM ha(-1) mm(-1). RANGETEK model predicted yields of Lasiurus sc indicus within +8% to -12% of recorded yields. (C) 1996 Academic Press Limited