{"product_id":"afrojack-f1-forage-maize","title":"Afrojack - Kern 500","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAfrojack (Kern 500)\u003c\/strong\u003e is an open-pollinated African Tall fodder maize — a single-cut crop that fills the field fast with soft, leafy green fodder and is at its most valuable in the May–June fodder crisis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOne cut, not many\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKern 500 is sown once and cut once at 60–70 days, after which the field is free. It is not a multi-cut crop like napier or sorghum-sudan. For a continuous supply, sow in \u003cstrong\u003e2–3 lots, 15–20 days apart\u003c\/strong\u003e so cutting rolls through the season instead of arriving all at once.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHarvest\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGreen fodder harvest:\u003c\/strong\u003e day 60–70, one clean cut low to the ground\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGreen chop:\u003c\/strong\u003e cut at 50% flowering, roughly day 55–65\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSilage:\u003c\/strong\u003e let it reach milk to early-dough stage, roughly day 65–75\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRealistic yield:\u003c\/strong\u003e 120–160 quintal per acre (12–16 tonnes) under good management\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHigher figures are seen on demo plots, but 120–160 quintal is what a well-managed field gives, and that is the number we quote.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSowing calendar\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePunjab, Haryana, Western UP:\u003c\/strong\u003e Zaid mid-February–March, Kharif mid-May–30 June. The Zaid crop is the hero — it harvests straight into the summer fodder shortage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRajasthan:\u003c\/strong\u003e Kharif with monsoon onset; Zaid only where canal or tubewell water is assured. Tolerates heat up to about 45°C but must not wilt\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJammu \u0026amp; Himachal:\u003c\/strong\u003e April–June as the valley warms; the cycle runs 5–10 days longer in cool weather\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGwalior \/ black cotton soil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Kharif June–July, with drainage channels made first\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow to sow\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeed rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 16–20 kg per acre for a thick fodder stand. Denser sowing gives more leaf and thinner, softer stems. Rates of 50–80 kg are wasteful for this crop\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing:\u003c\/strong\u003e rows 30 cm apart, plants 10–15 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDepth:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2–3 cm only — deeper sowing causes poor germination\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIrrigation:\u003c\/strong\u003e every 6–8 days in Zaid\/summer; every 10–15 days in Kharif to fill monsoon gaps\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePack size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5 kg\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe three things that decide the crop\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNitrogen top-dressing at day 25–30\u003c\/strong\u003e with irrigation — the single biggest yield lever. Skip it and tonnage drops\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall armyworm from day 20 onward\u003c\/strong\u003e, worst in Kharif and August. Scout the leaf whorls early and act on first sign\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLodging\u003c\/strong\u003e — tall 7–9 ft plants can topple in heavy August wind and rain. Avoid heavy irrigation plus heavy nitrogen right before a big rain spell\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTwo honest notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeed colour:\u003c\/strong\u003e the natural grain of Afrojack is white. Treated seed looks reddish-pink because of the fungicide coating. This is normal and is not adulteration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOn \"ready in 20 days\" claims:\u003c\/strong\u003e germination alone takes 5–7 days. Honest green-fodder harvest is 60–70 days. Any 20-day claim will not survive contact with your field.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSaving your own seed\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKern 500 is open-pollinated, so you can let a small patch reach full grain maturity and save seed. It works reasonably for 2–3 seasons, though vigour and purity drift slowly. For your main commercial plot, fresh seed each season gives the most uniform stand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePlease remember the product code KERN-500 when ordering. Confirm sowing dates, fertiliser doses and crop protection for your own district with your Kern dealer or KVK.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kern Seedtech Pvt. Ltd.","offers":[{"title":"5 kg","offer_id":45708993134775,"sku":"KERN-500 (T\/L) (5kg) (Maize)","price":600.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0596\/6204\/1271\/files\/500.png?v=1767619506","url":"https:\/\/kernseedtech.com\/pa\/products\/afrojack-f1-forage-maize","provider":"Kern Seedtech Pvt. Ltd.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}