A field experiment on Atriplex lentiformis was conducted in the Indian arid region on a salt land having pH 8·9 to 9·3, E.C. 12 to 17 dSm −1 and a thick CaCO 3 layer at 40 cm depth. There were five treatments, T 1 = Control; T 2 = Gypsum (10 t ha −1 ); T 3 = Gypsum +, Drainage; T 4 = Replacement of pit soil with good soil + FYM (5 kg plant −1 ); and T 5 = Gypsum + Drainage + FYM + Nitrogen (15 g urea plant −1 ) + Zn (7 g ZnSO 4 plant −1 ) One year after planting, untreated bushes attained an average height of 98 cm and crown diameter of 114 cm; T 5 was the best treatment where the average height and crown diameter was 123 cm and 161 cm respectively; the maximum height and crown diameter in T 5 was 180 and 250 cm respectively. Total biomass production in T 5 bushes was 2690 kg ha −1 as compared to 419 kg ha −1 in the control. Fresh leaf mass for the T 5 treatment was 1568 kg ha −1 and 212 kg ha −1 in the control. Crude protein content of A. lentiformis foliage varied from 112 to 148 g kg −1 DM. Total salt content (Na, K, Ca and Mg) of the foliage varied from 10·23 to 14·08%, sodium being the major constituent (6·82 to 10·2%) Drainage channels caused tremendous improvement in growth. The salt bush flowered 6–7 months after planting and produced viable seeds. Additional watering in summer was necessary for better growth and yield.