Soil series profile

Arcola soil series

Arcola is a well drained soil with a silt loam surface, mapped on 23,665 acres in 3 counties in VA. Hydrologic group C.

#9525 by mapped area fine-loamy Typic Hapludults (Ultisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 5.0
Mapped area: 24k

Typical Arcola 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).

Show as a table

Typical Arcola horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–9 in (H1)	Silt loam	5.0	21%	26%	1.25%
9–22 in (H2)	Gravelly silt loam	5.0	27%	24%	0.25%
22–28 in (H3)	Very gravelly silt loam	5.0	21%	26%	0.25%
28–48 in (H4)	Bedrock	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
48–58 in (H5)	Bedrock	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Representative values from the most extensive Arcola map unit (Arcola silt loam, 2 to 7 percent slopes, survey area VA153). 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 Arcola soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Arcola soils is very strongly acidic: pH 5.0. Most vegetables and lawn grasses do best around 6.0 to 7.0, so lime is often needed; blueberries, azaleas and rhododendrons like it as it is.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 100% of mapped Arcola acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silt loam (93% of mapped Arcola acres).

100% of mapped Arcola 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 Arcola 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 Arcola soil is found

Mapped acres

Arcola is mapped in Virginia.

Counties with the most mapped Arcola soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Prince William County, VA	21,953	11.9%
Fauquier County, VA	962	0.3%
Nelson County, VA	751	0.3%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Arcola acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 100%

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

Show as a table

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

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Arcola 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 5–11% (median 5%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 1.2%.

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 Arcola acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

Show as a table

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

Show as a table

Hydrologic soil group across mapped Arcola 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 Arcola (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 23,665 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Arcola components. The profile comes from the single largest Arcola component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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