Soil series profile
Bissett soil series
Bissett is a well drained soil with a very gravelly loam surface, mapped on 1,058,431 acres in 13 counties across 3 states. Hydrologic group D.
- Drainage class
- Well drained >99% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- D >99% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 8.2 moderately alkaline · range 7.9–8.2
- Mapped area
- 1.1M acres in 13 counties, 3 states
Typical Bissett profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–5 in (A) | Very gravelly loam | 8.0 | 23% | 39% | 3.5% |
| 5–11 in (Bk) | Very gravelly loam | 8.1 | 22% | 35% | 3% |
| 11–79 in (R) | Bedrock | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
What this means
What Bissett soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Bissett soils is moderately alkaline: pH 8.2 (most land between 7.9 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 >99% of mapped Bissett acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is very gravelly loam (91% of mapped Bissett acres).
>99% of mapped Bissett acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.
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.
For a septic system
For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates >99% of the acres in mapped Bissett 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 Bissett soil is found
Mapped acres
Bissett is mapped in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Hudspeth County, TX | 345,163 | 11.8% |
| Culberson County, TX | 298,635 | 12.2% |
| Brewster County, TX | 210,533 | 5.3% |
| Otero County, NM | 55,650 | 1.5% |
| Sierra County, NM | 36,250 | 1.5% |
| Presidio County, TX | 27,587 | 1.2% |
| Doña Ana County, NM | 21,253 | 0.8% |
| Reeves County, TX | 18,865 | 1.1% |
| Lincoln County, NM | 15,503 | 0.6% |
| Socorro County, NM | 13,044 | 0.4% |
| Jeff Davis County, TX | 8,266 | 0.6% |
| Yavapai County, AZ | 3,684 | 0.1% |
| El Paso County, TX | 2,876 | 0.4% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Bissett acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 99.5% |
| Not rated | 0.5% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Bissett 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 4–40% (median 20%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 4.6%.
Drainage class
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Well drained | 99.8% |
| Moderately well drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 0.0% |
| 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) | 99.5% |
| 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 | 0.5% |
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 Bissett (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 1,058,431 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Bissett components. The profile comes from the single largest Bissett component. Full methodology.