Soil series profile

Cabezon soil series

Cabezon is a well drained soil with a very stony clay loam surface, mapped on 401,103 acres in 11 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group D.

#772 by mapped area clayey Lithic Argiustolls (Mollisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: D
Typical topsoil pH: 7.4
Mapped area: 401k

Typical Cabezon 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 Cabezon horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–1 in (H1)	Very stony clay loam	7.4	35%	33%	1.5%
1–12 in (H2)	Cobbly clay	7.4	45%	26%	1.5%
12–24 in (H3)	Unweathered bedrock	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Representative values from the most extensive Cabezon map unit (Cabezon-Springerville complex, 5 to 25 percent slopes, survey area AZ637). 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 Cabezon soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Cabezon soils is slightly alkaline: pH 7.4 (most land between 6.7 and 7.4). 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 95% of mapped Cabezon acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is very stony clay loam (37% of mapped Cabezon acres).

100% of mapped Cabezon 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 Cabezon 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 Cabezon soil is found

Mapped acres

Cabezon is mapped in Arizona and New Mexico.

Counties with the most mapped Cabezon soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Yavapai County, AZ	234,457	5.6%
Cibola County, NM	80,061	3.1%
Catron County, NM	44,289	2.0%
Coconino County, AZ	16,428	0.1%
Sandoval County, NM	6,695	0.3%
Graham County, AZ	5,620	0.2%
Sierra County, NM	4,142	0.2%
Apache County, AZ	3,466	0.1%
Greenlee County, AZ	3,348	0.8%
McKinley County, NM	1,910	0.1%
Gila County, AZ	686	0.1%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Cabezon acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited >99%

Not rated <1%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Cabezon acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	99.9%
Not rated	0.1%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Cabezon 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 6–27% (median 15%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 1.5%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 100%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Cabezon acres.
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

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

B: moderate infiltration 0%

C: slow infiltration 0%

D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) >99%

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 0%

Not rated <1%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Cabezon acres.
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)	99.9%
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	0.1%

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 Cabezon (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 401,103 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Cabezon components. The profile comes from the single largest Cabezon component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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