Soil series profile

Cardigan soil series

Cardigan is a well drained soil with a channery silt loam surface, mapped on 91,785 acres in 5 counties across 3 states. Hydrologic group C.

#3781 by mapped area coarse-loamy Typic Dystrochrepts (Inceptisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 5.3
Mapped area: 92k

Typical Cardigan 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 Cardigan horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–8 in (H1)	Channery silt loam	5.3	12%	31%	5.5%
8–20 in (H2)	Channery loam	5.3	12%	45%	1%
20–30 in (H3)	Channery silt loam	5.3	12%	32%	0.5%
30–34 in (H4)	Unweathered bedrock	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Representative values from the most extensive Cardigan map unit (Nassau-Cardigan complex, hilly, very rocky, survey area NY027). 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 Cardigan soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Cardigan soils is strongly acidic: pH 5.3. 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 98% of mapped Cardigan acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is channery silt loam (52% of mapped Cardigan acres).

98% of mapped Cardigan acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

For lawns and yards

On 96% 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 96% of the acres in mapped Cardigan soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (4% not rated, such as urban land, pits or water).

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 Cardigan soil is found

Mapped acres

Cardigan is mapped in New York, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Counties with the most mapped Cardigan soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Dutchess County, NY	49,761	9.7%
Cheshire County, NH	14,779	3.3%
Grafton County, NH	12,458	1.7%
Sullivan County, NH	11,269	3.3%
Franklin County, MA	3,519	0.8%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Cardigan acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 96%

Not rated 4%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Cardigan acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	95.9%
Not rated	4.1%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Cardigan 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 4–38% (median 12%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 5.5%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 98%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

Not rated 2%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Cardigan acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	98.1%
Moderately well drained	0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%
Not rated	1.9%

Hydrologic soil group

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

B: moderate infiltration 2%

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 0%

Not rated 2%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Cardigan acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	2.2%
C: slow infiltration	95.9%
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%
Not rated	1.9%

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 Cardigan (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 91,785 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Cardigan components. The profile comes from the single largest Cardigan component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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