Soil series profile

Aksarben soil series

Aksarben is a well drained soil with a silty clay loam surface, mapped on 272,249 acres in 22 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group C.

#1275 by mapped area fine Typic Argiudolls (Mollisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 5.7
Mapped area: 272k

Typical Aksarben profile

Texture and pH by depth

Depth to scale. More strongly shaded layers hold more clay. Horizon names are the soil survey's (A = topsoil, B = subsoil, C = parent material).

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Typical Aksarben horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–6 in (Ap)	Silty clay loam	5.7	32%	4%	3.5%
6–11 in (A)	Silty clay loam	6.5	34%	2%	3%
11–17 in (Bt1)	Silty clay loam	6.5	39%	3%	0.9%
17–45 in (Bt2)	Silty clay loam	6.5	39%	3%	0.75%
45–54 in (BC)	Silty clay loam	6.7	31%	2%	0.25%
54–79 in (C)	Silty clay loam	7.0	28%	4%	0.2%

Representative values from the most extensive Aksarben map unit (Aksarben silty clay loam, 6 to 11 percent slopes, survey area NE109). Other map units of this series vary within the series range.

Stock photo for illustration, not a sample of this soil series. Credit on the Sources & method page.

What this means

What Aksarben soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Aksarben soils is moderately acidic: pH 5.7. Many vegetables grow well here, and some gardens benefit from a little lime. Test before adding any.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 100% of mapped Aksarben acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silty clay loam (100% of mapped Aksarben acres).

100% of mapped Aksarben acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

For lawns and yards

On 100% 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 100% of the acres in mapped Aksarben soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited.

Where the soil is very limited (slow permeability, a high water table, flooding, shallow bedrock or steep slopes), alternative systems such as mound or sand-filter designs are common and cost more.

Only a licensed site evaluation or perc test at the actual lot decides whether a system is allowed and which design.

Generated from the mapped numbers above using fixed rules, not a site visit. See how these notes are written.

Where Aksarben soil is found

Mapped acres

Aksarben is mapped in Nebraska and Kansas.

Counties with the most mapped Aksarben soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Lancaster County, NE	82,978	15.5%
Saunders County, NE	39,409	8.2%
Brown County, KS	39,405	10.8%
Richardson County, NE	29,735	8.5%
Cass County, NE	26,693	7.5%
Doniphan County, KS	14,395	5.7%
Otoe County, NE	10,963	2.8%
Seward County, NE	8,149	2.2%
Nemaha County, NE	6,521	2.5%
Butler County, NE	4,986	1.3%
Atchison County, KS	2,956	1.1%
Gage County, NE	2,779	0.5%
Pawnee County, NE	1,192	0.4%
Washington County, NE	1,135	0.5%
Johnson County, NE	427	0.2%
Jefferson County, NE	202	0.1%
Nemaha County, KS	189	0.0%
Burt County, NE	84	0.0%
Saline County, NE	19	0.0%
Leavenworth County, KS	17	0.0%
Wyandotte County, KS	9	0.0%
Douglas County, NE	6	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Aksarben acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 100%

Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Aksarben acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Aksarben acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	100.0%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Aksarben acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: None reported within about 6.5 feet (median where reported).
Flooding: Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
Slope: Typically 1–8% (median 4%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 3.5%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 100%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

Drainage class across mapped Aksarben acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Drainage class across mapped Aksarben acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	100.0%
Moderately well drained	0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%

Hydrologic soil group

A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) 0%

B: moderate infiltration 0%

C: slow infiltration 100%

D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) 0%

A/D: D as is, A if drained 0%

B/D: D as is, B if drained 0%

C/D: D as is, C if drained 0%

Hydrologic soil group across mapped Aksarben acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Aksarben acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	0.0%
C: slow infiltration	100.0%
D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet)	0.0%
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%

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 Aksarben (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 272,249 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Aksarben components. The profile comes from the single largest Aksarben component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

Full narrative description: USDA Official Soil Series Description for Aksarben.