UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549


                                    FORM 10-Q

                Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
                     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                  For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2000


                          Commission File No. 2-81398A

                           PARKER & PARSLEY 83-A, LTD.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


                          Texas                            75-1891384
         ---------------------------------------      ---------------------
             (State or other jurisdiction of            (I.R.S. Employer
              incorporation or organization)          Identification Number)


1400 Williams Square West, 5205 N. O'Connor Blvd., Irving, Texas       75039
----------------------------------------------------------------     ---------
          (Address of principal executive offices)                  (Zip code)

       Registrant's Telephone Number, including area code : (972) 444-9001


                                 Not applicable
              (Former name, former address and former fiscal year,
                          if changed since last report)


Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that the  Registrant  was
required  to file  such  reports),  and  (2) has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days.

                                Yes / x / No / /






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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 83-A, LTD.

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                         Page

                          Part I. Financial Information

Item 1.     Financial Statements

            Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2000 and
               December 31, 1999 .......................................   3

            Statements of Operations for the three months
              ended March 31, 2000 and 1999.............................   4

            Statement of Partners' Capital for the three months
              ended March 31, 2000......................................   5

            Statements of Cash Flows for the three months
              ended March 31, 2000 and 1999.............................   6

            Notes to Financial Statements...............................   7

Item 2.     Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
              Condition and Results of Operations.......................   7


                           Part II. Other Information

Item 6.     Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K............................   9

            27.1    Financial Reporting Schedule

            Signatures..................................................  10


                                        2


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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 83-A, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)

                          Part I. Financial Information

Item 1.     Financial Statements

                                 BALANCE SHEETS

                                                   March 31,      December 31,
                                                     2000             1999
                                                 ------------     ------------
                                                 (Unaudited)
                      ASSETS
Current assets:
  Cash                                           $    125,559     $    143,823
  Accounts receivable - oil and gas sales             212,635          189,995
                                                  -----------      -----------
          Total current assets                        338,194          333,818
                                                  -----------      -----------
Oil and gas properties - at cost, based on the
  successful efforts accounting method             16,894,055       16,892,307
Accumulated depletion                             (15,562,830)     (15,541,219)
                                                  -----------      -----------
          Net oil and gas properties                1,331,225        1,351,088
                                                  -----------      -----------
                                                 $  1,669,419     $  1,684,906
                                                  ===========      ===========

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL

Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable - affiliate                   $     37,091     $     32,852

Partners' capital:
  General partners                                    180,409          182,491
  Limited partners (19,505 interests)               1,451,919        1,469,563
                                                  -----------      -----------
                                                    1,632,328        1,652,054
                                                  -----------      -----------
                                                 $  1,669,419     $  1,684,906
                                                  ===========      ===========

  The financial information included as of March 31, 2000 has been prepared by
  the managing general partner without audit by independent public accountants.

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                        3


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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 83-A, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)

                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                   (Unaudited)



                                                        Three months ended
                                                              March 31,
                                                     ------------------------
                                                        2000          1999
                                                     ---------      ---------
Revenues:
   Oil and gas                                       $ 417,066      $ 174,245
   Interest                                              2,468          1,086
                                                      --------       --------
                                                       419,534        175,331
                                                      --------       --------
Costs and expenses:
   Oil and gas production                              216,331        182,200
   General and administrative                           12,903          7,093
   Depletion                                            21,606         63,032
                                                      --------       --------
                                                       250,840        252,325
                                                      --------       --------
Net income (loss)                                    $ 168,694      $ (76,994)
                                                      ========       ========

Allocation of net income (loss)
   General partners                                  $  45,512      $  (9,327)
                                                      ========       ========
   Limited partners                                  $ 123,182      $ (67,667)
                                                      ========       ========
Net income (loss) per limited partnership interest   $    6.32      $   (3.47)
                                                      ========       ========
Distributions per limited partnership interest       $    7.22      $     -
                                                      ========       ========


         The financial information included herein has been prepared by
  the managing general partner without audit by independent public accountants.

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                        4


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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 83-A, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)

                         STATEMENT OF PARTNERS' CAPITAL
                                   (Unaudited)





                                    General         Limited
                                    partners        partners         Total
                                   ----------      ----------      ----------

Balance at January 1, 2000         $  182,491      $1,469,563      $1,652,054

   Distributions                      (47,594)       (140,826)       (188,420)

   Net income                          45,512         123,182         168,694
                                    ---------       ---------       ---------

Balance at March 31, 2000          $  180,409      $1,451,919      $1,632,328
                                    =========       =========       =========







         The financial information included herein has been prepared by
  the managing general partner without audit by independent public accountants.

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                        5


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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 83-A, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)

                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (Unaudited)



                                                       Three months ended
                                                            March 31,
                                                  ---------------------------
                                                     2000             1999
                                                  ----------       ----------
Cash flows from operating activities:
   Net income (loss)                              $  168,694       $  (76,994)
   Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss)
     to net cash provided by (used in)
     operating activities:
        Depletion                                     21,606           63,032
 Changes in assets and liabilities:
   Accounts receivable                               (22,640)          (7,582)
   Accounts payable                                    4,239           10,548
                                                   ---------        ---------
           Net cash provided by (used in)
             operating activities                    171,899          (10,996)
                                                   ---------        ---------
Cash flows from investing activities:
   Additions to oil and gas properties                (1,743)          (1,192)

Cash flows used in financing activities:
   Cash distributions to partners                   (188,420)          (1,391)
                                                   ---------        ---------
Net decrease in cash                                 (18,264)         (13,579)
Cash at beginning of period                          143,823           94,700
                                                   ---------        ---------
Cash at end of period                             $  125,559       $   81,121
                                                   =========        =========



         The financial information included herein has been prepared by
  the managing general partner without audit by independent public accountants.

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                        6


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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 83-A, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                 March 31, 2000
                                   (Unaudited)

Note 1.     Organization and nature of operations

Parker  &  Parsley  83-A,  Ltd.  (the  "Partnership")  is a  limited partnership
organized in 1983 under the laws of the State of Texas.

The  Partnership  engages in oil and gas development and production in Texas and
is not involved in any industry segment other than oil and gas.

Note 2.     Basis of presentation

In  the  opinion  of  management,  the  unaudited  financial  statements  of the
Partnership as of March 31, 2000 include all adjustments and accruals consisting
only of normal  recurring  accrual  adjustments  which are  necessary for a fair
presentation  of the results for the interim  period.  These interim results are
not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. Certain reclassifications
may have been made to the March 31, 1999 financial  statements to conform to the
March 31, 2000 financial statement presentations.

Certain  information  and footnote  disclosures  normally  included in financial
statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting  principles
have been  condensed  or  omitted  in this Form 10-Q  pursuant  to the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The financial statements
should  be read in  conjunction  with the  financial  statements  and the  notes
thereto  contained in the  Partnership's  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1999, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission,  a copy
of which is available upon request by writing to Rich Dealy,  Vice President and
Chief Accounting Officer,  5205 North O'Connor  Boulevard,  1400 Williams Square
West, Irving, Texas 75039-3746.

Item 2.     Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
              and Results of Operations (1)

Results of Operations

Revenues:

The Partnership's oil and gas revenues  increased 139% to $417,066 for the three
months ended March 31, 2000 as compared to $174,245 for the same period in 1999.
The increase in revenues  resulted from higher  average  prices  received and an
increase  in  production.  For the three  months  ended March 31,  2000,  10,838
barrels of oil, 5,586 barrels of natural gas liquids  ("NGLs") and 22,988 mcf of
gas were  sold,  or 20,255  barrel of oil  equivalents  ("BOEs").  For the three
months ended March 31, 1999,  10,467  barrels of oil,  5,048 barrels of NGLs and
23,978 mcf of gas were sold, or 19,511 BOEs.

                                        7


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The average price  received per barrel of oil increased  $16.50,  or 151%,  from
$10.94 for the three  months  ended March 31, 1999 to $27.44 for the same period
in 2000. The average price received per barrel of NGLs increased $8.92, or 170%,
from  $5.26 for the three  months  ended  March 31,  1999 to $14.18 for the same
period in 2000.  The average  price  received per mcf of gas  increased 28% from
$1.38  during the three months ended March 31, 1999 to $1.76 for the same period
in 2000.  The market  price for oil and gas has been  extremely  volatile in the
past decade,  and management  expects a certain amount of volatility to continue
in the foreseeable future. The Partnership may therefore sell its future oil and
gas production at average  prices lower or higher than that received  during the
three months ended March 31, 2000.

The volatility of commodity prices has had, and continues to have, a significant
impact on the Partnership's revenues and operating cash flow and could result in
additional  decreases to the  carrying  value of the  Partnership's  oil and gas
properties.

Costs and Expenses:

Total costs and expenses  decreased to $250,840 for the three months ended March
31,  2000 as compared  to  $252,325  for the same period in 1999,  a decrease of
$1,485.  This decrease was  attributable  to a decline in  depletion,  offset by
increases in production costs and general and administrative expenses ("G&A").

Production  costs were  $216,331  for the three  months ended March 31, 2000 and
$182,200 for the same period in 1999  resulting in a $34,131  increase,  or 19%.
The increase was due to additional well maintenance  costs incurred to stimulate
well  production  and  higher  production  taxes  due to  increased  oil and gas
revenues.

G&A's  components are independent  accounting and engineering  fees and managing
general  partner  personnel  and  operating  costs.   During  this  period,  G&A
increased,  in  aggregate,  82% from $7,093 for the three months ended March 31,
1999 to $12,903 for the same period in 2000  primarily  due to increased oil and
gas revenues.

Depletion  was $21,606  for the three  months  ended March 31, 2000  compared to
$63,032 for the same period in 1999, a decrease of $41,426, or 66%. The decrease
was the result of an increase in proved  reserves  during the three months ended
March 31,  2000 due to higher  commodity  prices,  offset by an  increase in oil
production  of 371 barrels for the period  ended March 31, 2000  compared to the
same period in 1999.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating  activities  increased  $182,895 during the three
months  ended  March 31,  2000 from the same period in 1999.  The  increase  was
primarily attributable to an increase of $229,144 in oil and gas sales receipts,
offset by increases in operating  costs paid of $36,242 and G&A expenses paid of
$10,007.

                                        8


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Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

The Partnership's  investing  activities during the three months ended March 31,
2000 and 1999 were related to expenditures for equipment  upgrades on active oil
and gas properties.

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities

For the three months ended March 31, 2000,  cash  distributions  to the partners
were  $188,420,  of which $47,594 was  distributed  to the general  partners and
$140,826 to the limited  partners.  For the same  period  ended March 31,  1999,
$1,391 was  distributed  to the general  partners  with no  distribution  to the
limited partners.

Other Items

Year 2000

During 1998, the managing general partner established a "Year 2000" project that
assessed the Partnership's and the managing general partner's internal Year 2000
problem; took remedial actions necessary to minimize the Year 2000 risk exposure
to the managing  general  partner and third  parties;  and,  tested the managing
general partner's systems and processes once remedial actions were taken.

The  managing  general  partner  has  closely   monitored  its  information  and
non-information   technology  systems  since  the  beginning  of  2000  and  has
identified no significant Year 2000 failures or problems.

------------

(1)      "Item 2.  Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial  Condition
         and Results of Operations"  contains  forward  looking  statements that
         involve risks and  uncertainties.  Accordingly,  no  assurances  can be
         given  that the  actual  events  and  results  will  not be  materially
         different than the anticipated results described in the forward looking
         statements.

                           Part II. Other Information

Item 6.     Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)    Exhibits

       27.1    Financial Data Schedule

(b)    Reports on Form 8-K - none.

                                        9


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                           PARKER & PARSLEY 83-A, LTD.
                          (A Texas Limited Partnership)



                               S I G N A T U R E S



      Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                             PARKER & PARSLEY 83-A, LTD.

                                   By:      Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc.
                                             Managing General Partner

Dated:  May 8, 2000                By:      /s/ Rich Dealy
                                            -------------------------------
                                            Rich Dealy, Vice President
                                              and Chief Accounting Officer

                                       10


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