Rice, maize, and sugarcane show greater tolerance to alkaline/sodic soils due to:

Correct option is B

· These crops (especially rice) tolerate high pH, ESP, SAR because they can:
· Handle high Na⁺ in soil solution,
· Grow under flooded condition (rice) which reduces pH and sodicity,
· Maintain ionic balance better.
Why other options are wrong
· (a) Not related to sodicity tolerance.
· (c) Maize/sugarcane are C₄, but rice is C₃ — pathway is NOT the reason.
· (d) Flooding tolerance applies to rice only, not maize and sugarcane.