Soil series profile
Absher soil series
Absher is a moderately well drained soil with a loam surface, mapped on 729,295 acres in 38 counties across 5 states. Hydrologic group D.
- Drainage class
- Moderately well drained 55% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- D 98% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 7.5 slightly alkaline · range 6.9–7.5
- Mapped area
- 729k acres in 38 counties, 5 states
Typical Absher profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–1 in (E) | Loam | 6.9 | 24% | 39% | 1.5% |
| 1–4 in (Btn) | Clay | 7.8 | 41% | 29% | 1% |
| 4–8 in (Btkn) | Clay loam | 8.3 | 39% | 30% | 1% |
| 8–19 in (Bknz) | Clay loam | 8.2 | 36% | 33% | 0.75% |
| 19–31 in (BCyz) | Clay loam | 8.0 | 33% | 34% | 0.5% |
| 31–79 in (Cz) | Clay loam | 7.8 | 33% | 34% | 0.5% |
What this means
What Absher soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Absher soils is slightly alkaline: pH 7.5 (most land between 6.9 and 7.5). Acid-loving plants such as blueberries and azaleas struggle without amended beds, and some trees and shrubs show iron chlorosis (yellow leaves with green veins).
Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 71% of mapped Absher acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is loam (40% of mapped Absher acres).
>99% of mapped Absher acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.
For lawns and yards
On 99% of mapped acres, rain soaks in slowly (hydrologic groups C and D, including dual groups that are D until drained). Expect runoff and puddles after heavy rain: core-aerate compacted lawns and keep ground sloping away from foundations.
For a septic system
For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 46% of the acres in mapped Absher soils very limited, 11% somewhat limited and 42% not limited.
Only a licensed site evaluation or perc test at the actual lot decides whether a system is allowed and which design.
Where Absher soil is found
Mapped acres
Absher is mapped in Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming, North Dakota and Colorado.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Phillips County, MT | 197,607 | 5.3% |
| Valley County, MT | 72,679 | 2.2% |
| Carter County, MT | 68,082 | 3.6% |
| Blaine County, MT | 54,816 | 2.0% |
| Fergus County, MT | 45,266 | 1.7% |
| Butte County, SD | 42,001 | 2.9% |
| Fremont County, WY | 24,680 | 0.7% |
| Glacier County, MT | 22,890 | 1.5% |
| Meade County, SD | 16,937 | 0.8% |
| Fallon County, MT | 15,874 | 1.5% |
| Hill County, MT | 15,479 | 0.8% |
| Carbon County, WY | 15,096 | 0.3% |
| Cascade County, MT | 15,054 | 1.0% |
| Toole County, MT | 14,659 | 1.4% |
| Stillwater County, MT | 13,439 | 1.2% |
| McCone County, MT | 12,747 | 0.8% |
| Chouteau County, MT | 10,207 | 0.4% |
| Petroleum County, MT | 8,729 | 0.8% |
| Bowman County, ND | 5,982 | 0.8% |
| Teton County, MT | 4,988 | 0.4% |
| Big Horn County, MT | 4,981 | 0.1% |
| Liberty County, MT | 4,822 | 0.5% |
| Dawson County, MT | 4,119 | 0.3% |
| Rosebud County, MT | 3,626 | 0.1% |
| Wheatland County, MT | 3,408 | 0.4% |
| Rio Blanco County, CO | 3,172 | 0.2% |
| Custer County, MT | 3,045 | 0.1% |
| Golden Valley County, MT | 2,650 | 0.4% |
| Pondera County, MT | 2,546 | 0.2% |
| Musselshell County, MT | 2,309 | 0.2% |
| Natrona County, WY | 2,242 | 0.1% |
| Roosevelt County, MT | 1,350 | 0.1% |
| Sweet Grass County, MT | 1,020 | 0.1% |
| Garfield County, MT | 910 | 0.0% |
| Park County, MT | 386 | 0.0% |
| Prairie County, MT | 141 | 0.0% |
| Lincoln County, WY | 124 | 0.0% |
| Yellowstone County, MT | 8 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Absher acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 42.4% |
| Somewhat limited | 10.6% |
| Very limited | 46.4% |
| Not rated | 0.6% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Absher acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 4.1 feet (49 in) (median where reported).
- Flooding
- Mapped as flooding on 3% of acres (0% occasional, 0% frequent).
- Slope
- Typically 2–5% (median 2%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 1.5%.
Drainage class
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Well drained | 44.3% |
| Moderately well drained | 55.0% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Very poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Not rated | 0.6% |
Hydrologic soil group
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) | 0.0% |
| B: moderate infiltration | 0.7% |
| C: slow infiltration | 0.7% |
| D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) | 97.9% |
| A/D: D as is, A if drained | 0.0% |
| B/D: D as is, B if drained | 0.0% |
| C/D: D as is, C if drained | 0.0% |
| Not rated | 0.6% |
Sources & data dates
- Source
- USDA NRCS Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO), queried through Soil Data Access. Public domain.
- Data date
- SSURGO as published on November 3, 2026 (most recent survey area update October 26, 2026). NRCS refreshes SSURGO each October.
- Scope
- All map unit components named Absher (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 729,295 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Absher components. The profile comes from the single largest Absher component. Full methodology.