Soil series profile
Barbary soil series
Barbary is a very poorly drained soil with a mucky muck surface, mapped on 533,257 acres in 27 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group D.
- Drainage class
- Very poorly drained >99% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- D 97% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 5.7 moderately acidic · range 5.7–5.7
- Mapped area
- 533k acres in 27 counties, 2 states
Typical Barbary profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–10 in (Oa) | Mucky muck | 5.7 | 76% | 1% | 50% |
| 10–21 in (Ag) | Clay | 6.5 | 78% | 2% | 13.5% |
| 21–80 in (Cg) | Mucky clay | 6.7 | 78% | 2% | 13.5% |
What this means
What Barbary soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Barbary soils is moderately acidic: pH 5.7. Many vegetables grow well here, and some gardens benefit from a little lime. Test before adding any.
Clayey topsoil covers 70% of mapped Barbary acres. Clay holds water and nutrients but drains slowly and compacts if worked wet: add compost, avoid tilling soggy soil and consider raised beds. The most common surface texture is mucky muck (63% of mapped Barbary acres).
>99% of mapped Barbary 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 97% 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 98% 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 97% of the acres in mapped Barbary soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (3% 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.
Flooding is mapped on >99% of the acres (0% occasional, >99% frequent).
Only a licensed site evaluation or perc test at the actual lot decides whether a system is allowed and which design.
Where Barbary soil is found
Mapped acres
Barbary is mapped in Louisiana and Texas.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Lafourche Parish, LA | 83,285 | 13.6% |
| Assumption Parish, LA | 67,799 | 31.7% |
| St. John the Baptist Parish, LA | 58,813 | 42.5% |
| St. James Parish, LA | 57,339 | 37.2% |
| Terrebonne Parish, LA | 43,198 | 6.0% |
| St. Mary Parish, LA | 37,700 | 9.5% |
| Livingston Parish, LA | 37,106 | 9.0% |
| Ascension Parish, LA | 27,512 | 14.9% |
| St. Charles Parish, LA | 25,770 | 15.1% |
| St. Martin Parish, LA | 20,164 | 4.3% |
| Acadia Parish, LA | 9,367 | 2.2% |
| Tangipahoa Parish, LA | 9,052 | 1.8% |
| Jefferson Parish, LA | 7,993 | 4.7% |
| Orange County, TX | 7,799 | 3.4% |
| Calcasieu Parish, LA | 7,309 | 1.1% |
| Iberville Parish, LA | 6,977 | 1.8% |
| Vermilion Parish, LA | 6,538 | 0.9% |
| Iberia Parish, LA | 6,483 | 1.9% |
| St. Bernard Parish, LA | 4,802 | 2.0% |
| Jefferson Davis Parish, LA | 4,189 | 1.0% |
| St. Tammany Parish, LA | 2,715 | 0.5% |
| Plaquemines Parish, LA | 1,013 | 0.3% |
| Evangeline Parish, LA | 238 | 0.1% |
| Allen Parish, LA | 42 | 0.0% |
| East Baton Rouge Parish, LA | 36 | 0.0% |
| Jefferson County, TX | 13 | 0.0% |
| St. Landry Parish, LA | 3 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Barbary acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 96.6% |
| Not rated | 3.4% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Barbary acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 0 inches (median where reported); within 18 inches on 98% of acres.
- Flooding
- Mapped as flooding on >99% of acres (0% occasional, >99% frequent).
- Slope
- Typically 0–0% (median 0%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 50%.
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 | 0.0% |
| Poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Very poorly drained | 99.8% |
| 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) | 96.6% |
| 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 | 3.4% |
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 Barbary (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 533,257 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Barbary components. The profile comes from the single largest Barbary component. Full methodology.