Soil series profile

Boonton soil series

Boonton is a well drained soil with a loam surface, mapped on 56,883 acres in 9 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group C.

#5417 by mapped area coarse-loamy Typic Fragiudalfs (Alfisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 3.9
Mapped area: 57k

Typical Boonton profile

Texture and pH by depth

Depth to scale. More strongly shaded layers hold more clay. Horizon names are the soil survey's (A = topsoil, B = subsoil, C = parent material).

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Typical Boonton horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–8 in (Ap)	Loam	5.0	11%	46%	3%
8–36 in (Bt)	Gravelly fine sandy loam	5.3	14%	45%	0.75%
36–51 in (Bx)	Loam	6.1	11%	66%	0.75%
51–60 in (C)	Loam	6.1	11%	66%	0.75%

Representative values from the most extensive Boonton map unit (Boonton-Urban land-Haledon complex, 0 to 8 percent slopes, survey area NJ039). Other map units of this series vary within the series range.

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

What this means

What Boonton soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Boonton soils is extremely acidic: pH 3.9 (most land between 3.9 and 5.0). Most vegetables and lawn grasses do best around 6.0 to 7.0, so lime is often needed; blueberries, azaleas and rhododendrons like it as it is.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 100% of mapped Boonton acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is loam (77% of mapped Boonton acres).

100% of mapped Boonton acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

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.

For a septic system

For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 97% of the acres in mapped Boonton soils very limited, <1% somewhat limited and 2% 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 Boonton soil is found

Mapped acres

Boonton is mapped in New Jersey and New York.

Counties with the most mapped Boonton soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Bergen County, NJ	14,680	9.9%
Essex County, NJ	11,781	14.6%
Union County, NJ	10,475	15.9%
Middlesex County, NJ	8,980	4.5%
Passaic County, NJ	4,307	3.6%
Morris County, NJ	4,033	1.4%
Richmond County, NY	2,311	6.1%
Hudson County, NJ	315	1.1%
Somerset County, NJ	0	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Boonton acres

Not limited 2%

Somewhat limited <1%

Very limited 97%

Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Boonton acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Boonton acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	2.1%
Somewhat limited	0.5%
Very limited	97.4%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Boonton acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: About 2.3 feet (28 in) (median where reported); within 18 inches on <1% of acres.
Flooding: Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
Slope: Typically 6–20% (median 6%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 3%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 66%

Moderately well drained 34%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

Drainage class across mapped Boonton acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Drainage class across mapped Boonton acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	66.2%
Moderately well drained	33.8%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%

Hydrologic soil group

A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) 0%

B: moderate infiltration 3%

C: slow infiltration 96%

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 <1%

Hydrologic soil group across mapped Boonton acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Boonton acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	3.0%
C: slow infiltration	96.2%
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	0.9%

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 Boonton (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 56,883 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Boonton components. The profile comes from the single largest Boonton component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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