Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Hydroponics is a soil-less cultivation technique where plants are grown in a water solution enriched with essential nutrients.
This controlled system allows for highly efficient nutrient uptake and rapid crop growth.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze both statements:
- Statement (I): Lettuce (*Lactuca sativa*) has a shallow root system, rapid growth rate, and low physical space requirements.
These biological characteristics make it the most widely grown and successful crop in commercial hydroponic systems (using techniques like Nutrient Film Technique - NFT).
Therefore, Statement (I) is true.
- Statement (II): This statement asserts that hydroponic lettuce has a longer life cycle than soil-grown lettuce.
This is incorrect. Because hydroponic systems provide plants with direct, constant access to optimal levels of dissolved oxygen, water, and nutrients, plants do not need to expand energy growing large root systems to search for resources.
Consequently, hydroponic lettuce grows significantly faster, completing its market-ready life cycle in $30\text{ to }45 \text{ days}$ compared to traditionally soil-grown lettuce, which typically takes $50\text{ to }70 \text{ days}$.
Therefore, Statement (II) is false.
Thus, Statement (I) is true, but Statement (II) is false.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct option is (C) as Statement (I) is true but Statement (II) is false.