Given below are two statements:
Statement (I): Saline soil has the characteristics of EC > 4 dS/m, ESP > 15, and pH < 8.5.
Statement (II): Alkaline soils have the characteristics of EC > 4 dS/m, ESP < 15, and pH > 8.5.
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Correct option is B

✅ Correct option: (b) Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are false
❌ Statement (I) is false
· Correct characteristics of saline soils are:
· EC > 4 dS/m ✔️
· ESP < 15 ❌ (given statement says ESP > 15)
· pH < 8.5 ✔️
· Saline soils contain excess neutral soluble salts, not exchangeable sodium.
· Hence, Statement (I) is incorrect due to wrong ESP condition.
❌ Statement (II) is false
· Correct characteristics of alkaline (sodic) soils are:
· EC < 4 dS/m ❌ (given statement says EC > 4)
· ESP > 15 ❌ (given statement says ESP < 15)
· pH > 8.5 ✔️
· Alkaline soils are dominated by exchangeable sodium, not soluble salts.
· Therefore, Statement (II) is also incorrect.
❌ Why other options are incorrect
· Option (a): Incorrect because both statements contain errors.
· Option (c): Incorrect because Statement (I) is also false.
· Option (d): Incorrect because Statement (II) is false.
�� Key Points to Remember
· Saline soil:
· EC > 4 dS/m
· ESP < 15
· pH < 8.5
· Alkaline (Sodic) soil:
· EC < 4 dS/m
· ESP > 15
· pH > 8.5
· Saline–alkali soil:
· EC > 4 dS/m
· ESP > 15
· pH > 8.5