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.

#2169 by mapped area fine-silty Aeric Fragic Glossaqualfs (Alfisols)

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

Typical Avonburg soil profile by depth 0 in 20 in 40 in 60 in 80 in 0–11 in · Ap · pH 5.9 · 13% clay Silt loam 11–21 in · BE · pH 5.0 · 16% clay Silt loam 21–40 in · Btg · pH 4.3 · 27% clay Silty clay loam 40–52 in · 2Btgx/E · pH 4.3 · 22% clay Silt loam 52–83 in · 2Btx · pH 4.5 · 24% clay Silt loam 83–90 in · 3Btb · pH 5.9 · 34% clay Clay loam
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 Avonburg horizons (representative values)
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%

Representative values from the most extensive Avonburg map unit (Avonburg silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, survey area IN137). Other map units of this series vary within the series range.

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

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.

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

Where Avonburg soil is found

Mapped acres

Avonburg is mapped in Indiana and Ohio.

Counties with the most mapped Avonburg soil
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

Not limited 0%
Somewhat limited 0%
Very limited >99%
Not rated <1%
Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Avonburg acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.
Show as a table
Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Avonburg acres.
CategoryShare of acres
Not limited0.0%
Somewhat limited0.0%
Very limited99.8%
Not rated0.2%

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

Excessively drained 0%
Somewhat excessively drained 0%
Well drained 0%
Moderately well drained 0%
Somewhat poorly drained >99%
Poorly drained 0%
Very poorly drained 0%
Not rated <1%
Drainage class across mapped Avonburg acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.
Show as a table
Drainage class across mapped Avonburg acres.
CategoryShare of acres
Excessively drained0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained0.0%
Well drained0.0%
Moderately well drained0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained99.8%
Poorly drained0.0%
Very poorly drained0.0%
Not rated0.2%

Hydrologic soil group

A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) 0%
B: moderate infiltration 0%
C: slow infiltration 0%
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 >99%
Not rated <1%
Hydrologic soil group across mapped Avonburg acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.
Show as a table
Hydrologic soil group across mapped Avonburg acres.
CategoryShare of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)0.0%
B: moderate infiltration0.0%
C: slow infiltration0.0%
D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet)0.0%
A/D: D as is, A if drained0.0%
B/D: D as is, B if drained0.0%
C/D: D as is, C if drained99.8%
Not rated0.2%

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.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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