Question

Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and other one labelled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): Saline soils are dominated by neutral soluble salts consisting of chlorides and sulphates of sodium, calcium and magnesium.
Reason (R): Sodic soils contain sodium salts capable of causing alkaline hydrolysis, mainly \(\text{Na}_2\text{CO}_3\).
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
• B. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A).
• C. (A) is true but (R) is false.
• D. (A) is false but (R) is true.

Hint:

- Saline soils are dominated by neutral salts (chlorides and sulphates), keeping pH \(< 8.5\).
- Sodic soils are dominated by alkaline-hydrolyzing salts (carbonates and bicarbonates), raising pH \(\ge 8.5\).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B