24/04/2026
Best Rootstocks for Kaffir Lime / Makrut Lime in Bangladesh
For kaffir lime grafting, the best rootstock depends on soil, drainage, disease risk, and whether the goal is fast nursery growth or long-term field performance.
1. Rough Lemon (Citrus jambhiri)
Best for fast growth and strong nursery plants. A Bangladesh citrus grafting study found that 7-month-old Rough lemon rootstock gave the best growth and 80% graft survivability in BARI Malta-1.
2. Rangpur Lime (Citrus limonia)
A very good local and South Asian rootstock. It is suitable for Bangladesh conditions and is already used in citrus rootstock research in Bangladesh.
3. Trifoliate Orange (Poncirus trifoliata)
Good for disease resistance and controlled growth. It is also used commercially for kaffir lime in nurseries.
4. Sour Orange / Aurantium (Citrus aurantium)
It can be used and is compatible, but it should be used carefully because sour orange can be risky where Citrus tristeza virus is present.
Important: In Bangladesh, drainage is very important. Kaffir lime does not like waterlogged soil, especially during the monsoon.
My recommendation:
Rough lemon — best for fast and strong growth
Rangpur lime — best local/adaptable choice
Trifoliate orange — best for disease/root health and controlled growth
Sour orange / Aurantium — compatible, but use carefully because of disease risk
