Soil series profile
Bates soil series
Bates is a well drained soil with a loam surface, mapped on 782,793 acres in 52 counties across 3 states. Hydrologic group C.
- Drainage class
- Well drained 100% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- C 100% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 5.8 moderately acidic · range 5.8–5.8
- Mapped area
- 783k acres in 52 counties, 3 states
Typical Bates profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–13 in (A) | Loam | 5.8 | 21% | 42% | 2.5% |
| 13–19 in (BA) | Loam | 5.8 | 21% | 42% | 0.7% |
| 19–31 in (Bt) | Clay loam | 5.8 | 32% | 35% | 0.7% |
| 31–42 in (Cr) | Bedrock | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
What this means
What Bates soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Bates soils is moderately acidic: pH 5.8. 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 Bates acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is loam (79% of mapped Bates acres).
100% of mapped Bates 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 >99% of the acres in mapped Bates 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 Bates soil is found
Mapped acres
Bates is mapped in Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County, KS | 63,779 | 15.5% |
| Muskogee County, OK | 55,398 | 10.7% |
| Rogers County, OK | 55,333 | 12.9% |
| Hughes County, OK | 33,845 | 6.6% |
| Craig County, OK | 31,379 | 6.5% |
| Neosho County, KS | 29,020 | 7.9% |
| Okmulgee County, OK | 28,541 | 6.4% |
| Wilson County, KS | 28,067 | 7.7% |
| Cherokee County, KS | 27,415 | 7.3% |
| Franklin County, KS | 27,161 | 7.4% |
| Washington County, OK | 24,234 | 9.2% |
| Mayes County, OK | 21,796 | 5.2% |
| Coal County, OK | 21,372 | 6.4% |
| Wagoner County, OK | 20,761 | 5.8% |
| Pittsburg County, OK | 20,573 | 2.5% |
| Nowata County, OK | 20,238 | 5.6% |
| Woodson County, KS | 19,372 | 6.1% |
| Bates County, MO | 19,190 | 3.6% |
| Labette County, KS | 19,019 | 4.6% |
| McIntosh County, OK | 17,810 | 4.5% |
| Bourbon County, KS | 16,819 | 4.1% |
| Allen County, KS | 16,465 | 5.1% |
| Pontotoc County, OK | 14,836 | 3.2% |
| Elk County, KS | 13,455 | 3.2% |
| Okfuskee County, OK | 12,697 | 3.2% |
| Osage County, KS | 12,062 | 2.7% |
| Tulsa County, OK | 11,510 | 3.2% |
| Crawford County, KS | 10,656 | 2.8% |
| Ottawa County, OK | 10,588 | 3.5% |
| Coffey County, KS | 10,475 | 2.6% |
| Lyon County, KS | 9,747 | 1.8% |
| Linn County, KS | 8,594 | 2.3% |
| Greenwood County, KS | 6,946 | 1.0% |
| Chautauqua County, KS | 6,622 | 1.6% |
| Bryan County, OK | 6,600 | 1.1% |
| Creek County, OK | 5,880 | 1.0% |
| Atoka County, OK | 5,248 | 0.8% |
| Seminole County, OK | 4,396 | 1.1% |
| Miami County, KS | 3,734 | 1.0% |
| Delaware County, OK | 2,853 | 0.6% |
| Anderson County, KS | 2,299 | 0.6% |
| Osage County, OK | 2,003 | 0.1% |
| Henry County, MO | 1,712 | 0.4% |
| Douglas County, KS | 519 | 0.2% |
| Barton County, MO | 451 | 0.1% |
| Pawnee County, OK | 449 | 0.1% |
| Vernon County, MO | 415 | 0.1% |
| Cherokee County, OK | 215 | 0.0% |
| Cass County, MO | 132 | 0.0% |
| St. Clair County, MO | 108 | 0.0% |
| Wabaunsee County, KS | 2 | 0.0% |
| Chase County, KS | 1 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Bates acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 99.4% |
| Not rated | 0.6% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Bates 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 2–6% (median 4%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 2.5%.
Drainage class
Show as a table
| 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
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 | 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 Bates (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 782,793 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Bates components. The profile comes from the single largest Bates component. Full methodology.