Key Lime Technical Growers’ Guide

Here’s a comprehensive technical growers’ guide for Key Lime (Citrus aurantiifolia), suitable for standalone orchards or integration into agroforestry systems:

1. Overview

  • Scientific Name: Citrus aurantiifolia
  • Common Names: Key Lime, Mexican Lime, West Indian Lime
  • Plant Type: Small evergreen citrus tree
  • Height: 2–5 m
  • Uses: Fresh fruit, juice, preserves, essential oils, agroforestry integration

2. Climate & Soil Requirements

  • Temperature: 25–30°C optimum
  • Rainfall: 1,200–2,000 mm/year
  • Soil: Well-draining sandy loam, pH 5.5–7.0
  • Sunlight: Full sun for optimum flowering and fruiting
  • Altitude: Sea level to 800 m

3. Propagation

  1. Grafting / Budding (Preferred)
    • Rootstocks: Citrus trifoliata, C. macrophylla
    • Ensures uniformity and early fruiting
  2. Seeds
    • Slower to bear fruit and less uniform
  3. Cuttings / Layering
    • For rootstock propagation

4. Planting & Spacing

  • Spacing: 3–5 m between trees (small-scale); 4–6 m (intensive)
  • Planting Season: Early rainy season
  • Pit Size: 50 × 50 × 50 cm, filled with compost and topsoil
  • Mulching: 5–10 cm around base to conserve moisture and suppress weeds

5. Fertilization & Nutrient Management

  • Young Trees: 50–100 g NPK per tree/month
  • Mature Trees: 500 g NPK per tree every 3–4 months + organic compost/manure
  • Micronutrients: Magnesium, Zinc, Iron, Boron for flower and fruit quality

6. Irrigation & Water Management

  • Regular watering during dry periods
  • Drip irrigation recommended for water efficiency
  • Avoid waterlogging to prevent root rot

7. Pruning & Canopy Management

  • Remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches
  • Shape canopy for sunlight penetration and airflow
  • Promote flowering through selective pruning
  • Timing: Annually after harvest or before flowering

8. Pest & Disease Management

Common Pests

  • Aphids
  • Leaf miners
  • Fruit flies
  • Mites

Common Diseases

  • Citrus canker
  • Gummosis
  • Root rot

Control Measures:

  • Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
  • Biological control, neem oil, insecticidal soaps
  • Fungicides for fungal infections
  • Prune infected parts and maintain sanitation

9. Flowering & Fruit Production

  • Flowering Age: 1–2 years for grafted trees
  • Fruit Maturity: 6–9 months after flowering
  • Harvesting: Handpick to avoid bruising
  • Post-Harvest: Store 2–3 weeks at 10–15°C; moderate humidity

10. Agroforestry Integration

  • Layered Planting Concept:
    • Canopy Trees: Agarwood, Golden Champaca
    • Sub-Canopy / Fruit Layer: Key Lime, Avocado
    • Ornamentals / Shade Layer: Frangipani, Cinnamon
  • Benefits:
    • Short-term fruit revenue alongside medium-/long-term high-value crops
    • Soil conservation, shade regulation, biodiversity improvement
    • Carbon sequestration opportunities

11. Economic Considerations

  • Revenue Streams:
    • Nursery plant sales: 1 year after propagation
    • Fresh fruit harvest: 1–2 years for grafted trees
    • Value-added products: juice, preserves, essential oil
    • Companion agroforestry crops: medium- to long-term revenue
  • Break-even: 2–3 years for fruit sales; longer with integration into multi-crop systems

12. Key Recommendations

  1. Use healthy, disease-free propagation material
  2. Apply IPM and monitor regularly for pests and diseases
  3. Maintain proper spacing to reduce disease and shading
  4. Optimize soil fertility and irrigation
  5. Consider agroforestry integration with high-value trees for diversified income

I can also produce a fully illustrated Key Lime Agroforestry Technical Guide, showing layered integration with Agarwood, Golden Champaca, Frangipani, and Cinnamon, including planting diagrams, growth cycles, and projected yields.

Do you want me to create that illustrated guide?