Sweet Lime - Nagpur
Citrus limetta
Common Names: Sweet Lime, Mosambi, Sweet Lemon
Local Name: Sathukudi (Tamil), Mosambi (Hindi), Musambi (Marathi)
Family: Rutaceae
Origin: India (Nagpur variety — Maharashtra)
Plant Type: Small evergreen tree, 5–8 meters tall
Variety: Nagpur — the most commercially popular Indian sweet lime
Average Lifespan: 20–30 years
🌿 Botanical Description
| Growth Habit | Medium-sized spreading tree with rounded canopy and few thorns |
| Plant Size | 5–8 meters tall; canopy spread 4–6 meters |
| Leaves | Simple, alternate, ovate-elliptic, 6–12 cm long; aromatic, glossy dark green with narrowly winged petioles |
| Flowers | White, fragrant, 2–3 cm diameter; borne in axillary clusters |
| Flower Characteristics | 5-petaled, sweetly scented; blooms in multiple flushes per year |
| Fruit | Round to oblate, 6–8 cm diameter; smooth thin rind, sweet mild-flavored juice with low acidity |
| Fruit Color | Green turning pale yellow-green when ripe |
| Seed Characteristics | Polyembryonic; 3–8 small white seeds per fruit; some fruits nearly seedless |
| Root System | Moderately deep taproot with well-developed lateral root system |
☀ Growing Conditions
| Climate | Tropical to subtropical; prefers hot, semi-arid conditions |
| Temperature Range | 25–35°C ideal; tolerates up to 45°C; frost-sensitive |
| Rainfall Requirement | 750–1200 mm annually; dry period improves fruit sweetness |
| Soil Type | Well-drained black cotton soil, alluvial, or sandy loam |
| Soil pH Preference | 6.0–7.5 |
| Sun Requirement | Full sun (8+ hours daily) |
| Spacing | 5–6 meters between trees |
| Irrigation Method | Drip irrigation recommended; withhold water before flowering to induce bloom (bahar treatment) |
| Water Requirement | Moderate; stress irrigation used to regulate flowering |
| Can it Grow in Pots? | Yes, in large containers (30+ liters); will produce fewer fruits |
🌾 Cultivation & Care
| Fertilizer Schedule | 3 times per year — pre-flowering, post-fruit set, post-harvest |
| Recommended Organic Fertilizers | FYM (20–30 kg/tree/year), neem cake, vermicompost, bone meal |
| Pesticide Frequency | 2–3 sprays during new flush and fruiting season |
| Recommended Organic Pesticides | Neem oil, fish oil rosin soap, panchagavya, sticky traps |
| Mulching Practice | Organic mulch (sugarcane trash, dried leaves) in basin area |
| Training System | Modified central leader; maintain 3–4 scaffold branches |
| Pruning Time | After harvest; remove dead and diseased wood |
| How to Prune | Light pruning to remove water sprouts, dead branches, and improve canopy aeration |
| Common Pests | Citrus psylla, leaf miner, aphids, whitefly, fruit sucking moth |
| Common Diseases | Citrus greening (HLB), gummosis, Phytophthora root rot, citrus canker |
| Disease Prevention & Remedies | Use certified disease-free budwood, Bordeaux mixture, proper drainage, psylla control for HLB prevention |
🌸 Flowering & Fruiting
| Flowering Months | Three bahars — Ambe (Jan–Feb), Mrig (Jun–Jul), Hasta (Sep–Oct) |
| Fruiting Season | Mrig bahar harvest: November–January (most commercial); Ambe: May–June |
| Days to Harvest | 150–180 days from flowering |
| Harvest Indicators | Fruit turns pale yellow-green; slight softening; TSS 8–10° Brix |
| Average Yield per Plant | 150–300 fruits per tree per year (mature tree) |
| Pollination Type | Self-pollination; parthenocarpy common |
| Pollination Notes | Insect pollination improves fruit set; single tree sufficient |
💰 Economic Importance
| Commercial Production Regions | Maharashtra (Nagpur, Akola), Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan |
| Market Uses | Fresh juice (most popular use), fresh fruit, hospital/convalescent food |
| Processing Uses | Juice concentrate, squash, essential oil from peel, pectin extraction |
| Market Value (Approx.) | ₹30–80 per kg; India's most consumed citrus juice fruit |
🍈 Nutritional Information
| Calories | 43 kcal per 100g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.5 g per 100g |
| Vitamin C | 50 mg per 100g (83% DV) |
| Vitamin A | Trace amounts |
| Iron | 0.7 mg per 100g |
| Potassium | 490 mg per 100g |
| Antioxidants | Flavonoids, limonoids, vitamin C |
| Other Key Nutrients | Calcium, phosphorus, thiamine, natural sugars |
🌿 Medicinal Uses
| Immune Support | Rich vitamin C content supports immune function; commonly given during illness recovery |
| Digestive Health | Mild, non-acidic juice is gentle on the stomach; recommended for patients with gastric issues |
| Hydration | Excellent rehydration drink; high potassium and natural electrolytes |
| Heart Health | Potassium-rich juice supports blood pressure regulation |
Disclaimer: Information provided is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for medical advice.
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