Soil series profile

Cerini soil series

Cerini is a well drained soil with a clay loam surface, mapped on 159,000 acres in 3 counties in CA. Hydrologic group C.

#2318 by mapped area fine-loamy Fluventic Haplocambids (Aridisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 7.7
Mapped area: 159k

Typical Cerini 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 Cerini horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–5 in (Ap)	Clay loam	7.7	28%	32%	0.8%
5–25 in (Bw)	Clay loam	7.9	31%	34%	0.7%
25–35 in (Bk1)	Stratified sandy loam to clay loam	7.7	25%	23%	0.4%
35–62 in (Bk2)	Stratified sandy loam to clay loam	7.7	21%	44%	0.3%

Representative values from the most extensive Cerini map unit (Cerini clay loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, survey area CA653). 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 Cerini soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Cerini soils is slightly alkaline: pH 7.7 (most land between 7.7 and 8.1). 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 86% of mapped Cerini acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is clay loam (51% of mapped Cerini acres).

89% of mapped Cerini acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

For lawns and yards

On 61% 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 61% of the acres in mapped Cerini soils very limited, 25% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (14% 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.

Flooding is mapped on 89% of the acres (0% occasional, 0% frequent).

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 Cerini soil is found

Mapped acres

Cerini is mapped in California.

Counties with the most mapped Cerini soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Fresno County, CA	110,978	2.3%
Kern County, CA	46,771	0.8%
Kings County, CA	1,251	0.1%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Cerini acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 25%

Very limited 61%

Not rated 14%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Cerini acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	24.6%
Very limited	61.4%
Not rated	14.0%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Cerini acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: None reported within about 6.5 feet (median where reported).
Flooding: Mapped as flooding on 89% of acres (0% occasional, 0% frequent).
Slope: Typically 0–3% (median 0%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 0.8%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 89%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

Not rated 11%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Cerini acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	89.2%
Moderately well drained	0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%
Not rated	10.8%

Hydrologic soil group

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

B: moderate infiltration 25%

C: slow infiltration 61%

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 14%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Cerini acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	24.6%
C: slow infiltration	61.4%
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	14.0%

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 Cerini (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 159,000 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Cerini components. The profile comes from the single largest Cerini component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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