Soil series profile
Avonburg soil series
Avonburg is a somewhat poorly drained soil with a silt loam surface, mapped on 168,679 acres in 22 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group C/D.
- Drainage class
- Somewhat poorly drained >99% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- C/D >99% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 5.9 moderately acidic · range 5.9–5.9
- Mapped area
- 169k acres in 22 counties, 2 states
Typical Avonburg profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–11 in (Ap) | Silt loam | 5.9 | 13% | 19% | 1.5% |
| 11–21 in (BE) | Silt loam | 5.0 | 16% | 18% | 0.5% |
| 21–40 in (Btg) | Silty clay loam | 4.3 | 27% | 11% | 0.25% |
| 40–52 in (2Btgx/E) | Silt loam | 4.3 | 22% | 24% | 0.25% |
| 52–83 in (2Btx) | Silt loam | 4.5 | 24% | 20% | 0.25% |
| 83–90 in (3Btb) | Clay loam | 5.9 | 34% | 30% | 0.25% |

What this means
What Avonburg soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Avonburg soils is moderately acidic: pH 5.9. 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 >99% of mapped Avonburg acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silt loam (>99% of mapped Avonburg acres).
>99% of mapped Avonburg acres is somewhat poorly to very poorly drained, so soil stays soggy for long spells after rain and in wet seasons. Raised beds, plants that tolerate wet feet, and not working the soil while wet all help.
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.
A seasonal high water table comes within 18 inches of the surface on >99% of mapped acres, often in spring. Basements, sump pumps and lawns in low spots feel it first.
For a septic system
For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates >99% of the acres in mapped Avonburg 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.
Where Avonburg soil is found
Mapped acres
Avonburg is mapped in Indiana and Ohio.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Ripley County, IN | 47,221 | 16.6% |
| Jennings County, IN | 26,143 | 10.9% |
| Jefferson County, IN | 25,606 | 11.1% |
| Decatur County, IN | 14,471 | 6.1% |
| Franklin County, IN | 12,101 | 4.9% |
| Clark County, IN | 11,793 | 5.0% |
| Scott County, IN | 7,748 | 6.4% |
| Dearborn County, IN | 6,900 | 3.5% |
| Bartholomew County, IN | 6,748 | 2.6% |
| Switzerland County, IN | 4,268 | 3.0% |
| Jackson County, IN | 2,046 | 0.6% |
| Ohio County, IN | 792 | 1.4% |
| Clermont County, OH | 789 | 0.3% |
| Hamilton County, OH | 777 | 0.3% |
| Brown County, IN | 299 | 0.2% |
| Washington County, IN | 287 | 0.1% |
| Brown County, OH | 255 | 0.1% |
| Floyd County, IN | 204 | 0.2% |
| Highland County, OH | 127 | 0.0% |
| Fayette County, IN | 68 | 0.0% |
| Warren County, OH | 27 | 0.0% |
| Butler County, OH | 9 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Avonburg acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 99.8% |
| Not rated | 0.2% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Avonburg acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 6 inches (median where reported); within 18 inches on >99% of acres.
- Flooding
- Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
- Slope
- Typically 1–1% (median 1%).
- 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 | 0.0% |
| Moderately well drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 99.8% |
| Poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Very poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Not rated | 0.2% |
Hydrologic soil group
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) | 0.0% |
| B: moderate infiltration | 0.0% |
| C: slow infiltration | 0.0% |
| 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 | 99.8% |
| Not rated | 0.2% |
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 Avonburg (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 168,679 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Avonburg components. The profile comes from the single largest Avonburg component. Full methodology.