Swarna (MTU 7029)
A widely grown long-duration rice variety for lowland conditions in eastern India, known for stable yield and low nitrogen responsiveness.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Paddy (Rice)
- Type
- Inbred rice variety
- Season
- Kharif
- Maturity period
- 145–150 days
- Seed rate
- About 30–35 kg/ha for a transplanted nursery — the standard practice for transplanted rice in the eastern belt, not a rate calibrated to this variety alone
- Expected yield
- 45–55 q/ha under rainfed lowland
- Suitable soil
- Lowland soils, including clayey soils
- Release
- Released in 1982 · Andhra Pradesh Rice Research Station, Maruteru
About this variety
Swarna was bred at the Andhra Pradesh Rice Research Station (APRRS), Maruteru, part of Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, and released as MTU 7029 in 1982. It became one of the most widely grown rice varieties in eastern India, prized for its stable yield in a poor-water year, low responsiveness to nitrogen, and tolerance to bacterial leaf blight that many contemporaries lacked. Those traits made it the default choice for rainfed lowland rice across West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha and Assam, and it remains a parent line behind several newer eastern-belt releases.
Key characteristics
Sowing & cultivation
- Seed rateAbout 30–35 kg/ha for a transplanted nursery — the standard practice for transplanted rice in the eastern belt, not a rate calibrated to this variety alone
- SpacingAround 20 cm × 15 cm between transplanted hills using 20–25-day-old seedlings — the standard transplanting spacing for the eastern belt, not variety-specific
- Sowing methodNursery-raised and transplanted — not direct-seeded
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
145–150 days
Expected yield
45–55 q/ha under rainfed lowland
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Major diseases
Management notes
- Its low nitrogen responsiveness means excessive nitrogen application may not provide a proportional yield benefit — follow the recommended nitrogen dose for the local production system
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Stable yield across a bad-water year — the reason it became the default for rainfed lowland rice across the eastern belt
- Tolerant to bacterial leaf blight, a strength many contemporaries of its era lacked
- Four decades of on-farm experience across West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam and Andhra Pradesh — its behaviour is thoroughly understood
Things to consider
- An older release (1982) — newer eastern-belt varieties post higher yield ceilings under good management
- Susceptible to sheath blight — needs field monitoring, unlike its tolerance to bacterial leaf blight
- Low nitrogen-responsiveness caps how much extra fertilizer can push yield — this is a stable variety, not a high-input one
- Best suited to rainfed lowland conditions; performance in fully irrigated, high-input systems is less its strength
Suitable regions
Swarna is widely grown across eastern and adjoining rice-growing regions. Check current state and agro-climatic recommendations before selecting it. The states below are major growing regions, not an exhaustive official list.
- West Bengal
- Bihar
- Odisha
- Assam
- Uttar Pradesh
Frequently asked questions
What is Swarna (MTU 7029) rice?
A rice variety bred at the Andhra Pradesh Rice Research Station, Maruteru and released in 1982, known for stable yield and bacterial leaf blight tolerance across the eastern belt.
What is the seed rate and spacing for Swarna?
About 30–35 kg/ha for the nursery, transplanted at roughly 20 cm × 15 cm spacing using 20–25-day-old seedlings.
Is Swarna resistant to bacterial leaf blight?
It is tolerant to bacterial leaf blight, one of the traits that made it the default choice across the eastern rice belt.
What is the yield potential of Swarna?
Around 45–55 q/ha under rainfed lowland conditions — stable rather than spectacular, which is its main appeal.
Which regions are suitable for Swarna?
West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam and Uttar Pradesh — the rainfed lowland rice tracts of eastern India.