Soil series profile

Cellar soil series

Cellar is a somewhat excessively drained soil with a very gravelly sandy loam surface, mapped on 453,825 acres in 8 counties in AZ. Hydrologic group D.

#657 by mapped area loamy-skeletal Lithic Torriorthents (Entisols)

Drainage class: Somewhat excessively drained
Hydrologic group: D
Typical topsoil pH: 7.5
Mapped area: 454k

Typical Cellar 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 Cellar horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–2 in (A)	Very gravelly sandy loam	7.9	12%	66%	0.75%
2–10 in (Bw)	Very gravelly sandy loam	7.9	12%	66%	0.75%
10–13 in (2Cr)	Weathered bedrock	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
13–23 in (2R)	Unweathered bedrock	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Representative values from the most extensive Cellar map unit (Cellar-Rock outcrop complex, 20 to 60 percent slopes, survey area AZ627). 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 Cellar soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Cellar soils is slightly alkaline: pH 7.5 (most land between 7.2 and 7.9). 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 100% of mapped Cellar acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is very gravelly sandy loam (57% of mapped Cellar acres).

51% of mapped Cellar acres is excessively or somewhat excessively drained: water moves through fast, so gardens need more frequent watering in dry spells.

For lawns and yards

On 100% 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 100% of the acres in mapped Cellar 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 Cellar soil is found

Mapped acres

Cellar is mapped in Arizona.

Counties with the most mapped Cellar soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Yavapai County, AZ	158,419	3.8%
Mohave County, AZ	125,856	1.5%
Pima County, AZ	63,778	1.2%
Pinal County, AZ	46,217	1.4%
La Paz County, AZ	35,676	1.3%
Maricopa County, AZ	20,075	0.3%
Gila County, AZ	2,824	0.2%
Graham County, AZ	980	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Cellar acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 100%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Cellar acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	100.0%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Cellar 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 20–45% (median 40%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 0.8%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 51%

Well drained 49%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Cellar acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	50.8%
Well drained	49.2%
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) 100%

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%

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

Show as a table

Hydrologic soil group across mapped Cellar 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)	100.0%
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%

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 Cellar (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 453,825 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Cellar components. The profile comes from the single largest Cellar component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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