Kern 633 F1 Sunflower

Kern 633 is an F1 hybrid sunflower for the spring (zaid) season, with medium-tall, strong plants and a uniform, semi-erect head that fills to the centre.

Land and sowing window

• Punjab and Haryana: mid-January to end of February
• Timing: try to finish sowing by the end of January. Sowing late into February can lower output and raise pest and disease pressure
• Soil: well-drained loam, or light to medium soil
• Land preparation: work the soil to a soft, level seedbed

How to sow

• Seed rate: about 1.6–2.4 kg per acre in irrigated fields; 2.4–3.2 kg per acre in rainfed fields. Use the lower rate for bold seed sown carefully
• Spacing: 60 cm between rows × 25–30 cm between plants. With paired rows or drip, keep the same plant numbers
• Depth: 4–5 cm, evenly placed in good contact with the soil
• Seed treatment: a recommended insecticide such as Imidacloprid, as per label, to protect young plants
• Pack size: 1 kg

Manure and fertiliser (per acre)

• Test the soil first and adjust the doses to the result
• Irrigated: N 24–32 kg, P₂O₅ 24 kg, K₂O 12–16 kg
• Rainfed: N 24 kg, P₂O₅ 24 kg, K₂O 12 kg
• How to apply: all phosphorus and potash at sowing. Half the nitrogen at sowing, the rest in one or two doses at 30 and 45 days, as per your irrigation
• Sulphur: 8–12 kg; use gypsum or ammonium sulphate if the soil is short of sulphur
• Boron: spray 0.2% borax solution on the head as it starts to open, for better seed set
• Calcium nitrate: a spray at 20–50% flowering may help seed filling

Water, weeds and pests

• Irrigation: light but frequent in summer, especially during fast growth and flowering. Bud formation and seed filling are the critical stages. Usually 3–4 irrigations; more on sandy soil
• Weeds: keep the field weed-free for the first 45–60 days — with a recommended herbicide as per label, by hand weeding, or a cultivator between wide rows
• Pests and diseases: watch for stem weevil, borers, bird damage, powdery mildew and downy mildew. Follow IPM: check the field regularly and spray only approved chemicals when the problem becomes serious, as per your state advisory

Where it will not do well

Sunflower does not tolerate waterlogging — do not let water stand in the field. Heavy rain at flowering also hurts pollination, so time your sowing to avoid it.

Harvest

• When to cut: when the back of the head turns yellow-brown, the outer bracts are dry and the seeds are black and hard
• Harvest before the seeds start to drop or birds attack
• Drying: dry the seed to 8–10% moisture for safe storage. Thresh gently to avoid breaking the seed

Please quote product code KERN-633 when ordering.

Agronomy helpline: 9107062062

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कण 633 सूरजमुखी — किसान की ज़ुबानी