A short note on water use and production potential ofLasiurus scindicusHenr. in the Thar desert of Rajasthan, India

Over a 4-year period from 1990–93,Lasiurus scindicusHenr. in the Thar desert at Jodhpur produced 2955 to 3587 kg ha−1of forage dry matter 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 varied from 144 to 271 mm and water-use efficiency varied from 13•2 to 20•8 kg DM ha−1mm−1. RANGETEK model predicted yields ofLasiurus scindicuswithin +8% to −12% of recorded yields.