Soil series profile

Arojomil soil series

Arojomil is a well drained soil with a loam surface, mapped on 29,908 acres in 1 county in NM. Hydrologic group C.

#8338 by mapped area fine-loamy Ustalfic Petrocalcids (Aridisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 8.2
Mapped area: 30k

Typical Arojomil 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 Arojomil horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–2 in (A)	Loam	8.2	19%	38%	1.2%
2–10 in (B)	Clay loam	8.2	28%	27%	1.2%
10–15 in (B)	Loam	8.3	26%	32%	0.5%
15–22 in (B1)	Very gravelly loam	8.4	16%	47%	0.3%
22–33 in (B2)	Very gravelly loam	8.4	12%	50%	0.1%
33–41 in (Bkkm1)	Cemented material	8.3	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
41–46 in (Bkkm2)	Cemented material	8.1	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Representative values from the most extensive Arojomil map unit (Arojomil-Tapia complex, 1 to 5 percent slopes, survey area NM687). 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 Arojomil soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Arojomil soils is moderately alkaline: pH 8.2 (most land between 8.0 and 8.2). 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 94% of mapped Arojomil acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is loam (68% of mapped Arojomil acres).

94% of mapped Arojomil acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

For lawns and yards

On 94% 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 94% of the acres in mapped Arojomil soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (6% not rated, such as urban land, pits or water).

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 Arojomil soil is found

Mapped acres

Arojomil is mapped in New Mexico.

Counties with the most mapped Arojomil soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Santa Fe County, NM	29,908	3.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Arojomil acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 94%

Not rated 6%

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

Show as a table

Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Arojomil acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	93.7%
Not rated	6.3%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Arojomil 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 3–3% (median 3%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 1.2%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 94%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

Not rated 6%

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

Show as a table

Drainage class across mapped Arojomil acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	93.7%
Moderately well drained	0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%
Not rated	6.3%

Hydrologic soil group

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

B: moderate infiltration 0%

C: slow infiltration 94%

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%

Not rated 6%

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

Show as a table

Hydrologic soil group across mapped Arojomil acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	0.0%
C: slow infiltration	93.7%
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%
Not rated	6.3%

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 Arojomil (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 29,908 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Arojomil components. The profile comes from the single largest Arojomil component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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