`C_(4)` plants have better productivity because

Options

A. `C_(4)` plants absorb more light
B. `C_(4)` plants absorb more `CO_(2)`
C. `C_(4)` plants lack photorespiration
D. All the above.

Answer

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding C4 Plants**: C4 plants are a type of plant that have adapted to efficiently fix carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. They have a specialized mechanism that allows them to minimize photorespiration, which is a wasteful process that occurs in some plants.

2. **Photorespiration**: In C3 plants, photorespiration can occur when the enzyme RuBisCO fixes oxygen instead of carbon dioxide, leading to a loss of carbon that could have been used for photosynthesis. This process can reduce the overall productivity of the plant.

3. **Comparison with C3 Plants**: It is estimated that in C3 plants, up to 50% of the fixed carbon dioxide may be lost to photorespiration. This means that a significant portion of the potential yield is wasted.

4. **C4 Photosynthesis Mechanism**: C4 plants have a different mechanism where they initially fix carbon dioxide into a four-carbon compound. This allows them to concentrate carbon dioxide in the cells where the Calvin cycle occurs, effectively reducing the chances of photorespiration.

5. **Conclusion**: Because C4 plants lack photorespiration, they can maintain higher levels of photosynthetic activity and productivity compared to C3 plants. Thus, the correct reason for the better productivity of C4 plants is that they lack photorespiration.

### Final Answer:
C4 plants have better productivity because they lack photorespiration.

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