Soil series profile
Canfield soil series
Canfield is a moderately well drained soil with a silt loam surface, mapped on 537,267 acres in 23 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group C/D.
- Drainage class
- Moderately well drained >99% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- C/D >99% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 6.3 slightly acidic · range 6.3–6.3
- Mapped area
- 537k acres in 23 counties, 2 states
Typical Canfield profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–6 in (Ap) | Silt loam | 6.3 | 14% | 23% | 3.3% |
| 6–9 in (BE) | Silt loam | 6.3 | 19% | 22% | 0.7% |
| 9–15 in (Bt1) | Silt loam | 5.8 | 23% | 26% | 0.5% |
| 15–21 in (2Bt2) | Loam | 5.3 | 23% | 30% | 0.3% |
| 21–26 in (2Bt3) | Loam | 5.3 | 26% | 35% | 0.3% |
| 26–38 in (2Btx1) | Loam | 5.8 | 21% | 38% | 0.3% |
| 38–45 in (2Btx2) | Loam | 6.3 | 20% | 40% | 0.25% |
| 45–62 in (2C1) | Loam | 6.3 | 17% | 43% | 0.25% |
| 62–80 in (2C2) | Loam | 7.0 | 14% | 46% | 0.2% |
What this means
What Canfield soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Canfield soils is slightly acidic: pH 6.3, the range most vegetables, flowers and lawn grasses prefer.
Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers >99% of mapped Canfield acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silt loam (95% of mapped Canfield acres).
>99% of mapped Canfield 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.
A seasonal high water table comes within 18 inches of the surface on >99% 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 >99% of the acres in mapped Canfield 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 Canfield soil is found
Mapped acres
Canfield is mapped in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Columbiana County, OH | 79,658 | 23.4% |
| Mercer County, PA | 66,125 | 15.5% |
| Wayne County, OH | 61,569 | 17.3% |
| Stark County, OH | 60,718 | 16.5% |
| Lawrence County, PA | 51,794 | 22.8% |
| Mahoning County, OH | 27,802 | 10.5% |
| Summit County, OH | 26,172 | 9.9% |
| Venango County, PA | 24,750 | 5.8% |
| Richland County, OH | 21,454 | 6.8% |
| Ashland County, OH | 21,417 | 7.9% |
| Portage County, OH | 19,372 | 6.1% |
| Holmes County, OH | 17,929 | 6.6% |
| Trumbull County, OH | 15,102 | 3.9% |
| Geauga County, OH | 13,117 | 5.1% |
| Medina County, OH | 10,042 | 3.7% |
| Morrow County, OH | 6,696 | 2.6% |
| Beaver County, PA | 5,948 | 2.2% |
| Knox County, OH | 2,934 | 0.9% |
| Butler County, PA | 2,184 | 0.4% |
| Columbia County, PA | 1,938 | 0.6% |
| Tuscarawas County, OH | 319 | 0.1% |
| Crawford County, PA | 151 | 0.0% |
| McKean County, PA | 76 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Canfield acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 99.8% |
| Not rated | 0.2% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Canfield acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 1.2 feet (14 in) (median where reported); within 18 inches on >99% of acres.
- Flooding
- Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
- Slope
- Typically 4–12% (median 4%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 3.3%.
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 | 99.8% |
| 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 | 0.6% |
| D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) | 0.1% |
| 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 | 99.1% |
| Not rated | 0.2% |
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 Canfield (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 537,267 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Canfield components. The profile comes from the single largest Canfield component. Full methodology.