Soil series profile
Cho soil series
Cho is a well drained soil with a loam surface, mapped on 642,260 acres in 35 counties in TX. Hydrologic group D.
- Drainage class
- Well drained 98% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- D 83% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 8.2 moderately alkaline · range 8.2–8.2
- Mapped area
- 642k acres in 35 counties, 1 state
Typical Cho profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–8 in (H1) | Loam | 8.2 | 25% | 39% | 1.5% |
| 8–28 in (H2) | Cemented material | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
What this means
What Cho soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Cho soils is moderately alkaline: pH 8.2. 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 83% of mapped Cho acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is gravelly loam (56% of mapped Cho acres).
>99% of mapped Cho acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.
For lawns and yards
On 83% 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 83% of the acres in mapped Cho soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (17% 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.
Where Cho soil is found
Mapped acres
Cho is mapped in Texas.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Concho County, TX | 99,382 | 15.9% |
| Coke County, TX | 96,425 | 16.8% |
| Tom Green County, TX | 89,322 | 9.2% |
| Schleicher County, TX | 76,273 | 9.1% |
| Irion County, TX | 50,780 | 7.5% |
| Sterling County, TX | 41,670 | 7.1% |
| Coryell County, TX | 28,917 | 4.3% |
| McCulloch County, TX | 24,045 | 3.5% |
| Shackelford County, TX | 22,337 | 3.8% |
| Kimble County, TX | 14,303 | 1.8% |
| San Saba County, TX | 13,974 | 1.9% |
| Hamilton County, TX | 13,965 | 2.6% |
| Lampasas County, TX | 11,090 | 2.4% |
| Edwards County, TX | 9,599 | 0.7% |
| Sutton County, TX | 9,046 | 1.0% |
| Menard County, TX | 7,925 | 1.4% |
| Coleman County, TX | 6,576 | 0.8% |
| Mason County, TX | 6,545 | 1.1% |
| Reagan County, TX | 3,472 | 0.5% |
| Gillespie County, TX | 3,021 | 0.4% |
| Runnels County, TX | 2,830 | 0.4% |
| Glasscock County, TX | 2,562 | 0.4% |
| Llano County, TX | 1,918 | 0.3% |
| Callahan County, TX | 1,397 | 0.2% |
| Stephens County, TX | 1,307 | 0.2% |
| Howard County, TX | 823 | 0.1% |
| Bell County, TX | 822 | 0.1% |
| Real County, TX | 469 | 0.1% |
| Nolan County, TX | 384 | 0.1% |
| Baylor County, TX | 350 | 0.1% |
| Taylor County, TX | 261 | 0.0% |
| Brown County, TX | 169 | 0.0% |
| Mills County, TX | 122 | 0.0% |
| Upton County, TX | 105 | 0.0% |
| Kinney County, TX | 73 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Cho acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 83.2% |
| Not rated | 16.8% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Cho 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 2–5% (median 3%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 1.5%.
Drainage class
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Well drained | 98.4% |
| Moderately well drained | 1.3% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Very poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Not rated | 0.3% |
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 | 0.0% |
| D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) | 83.2% |
| 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 | 16.8% |
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 Cho (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 642,260 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Cho components. The profile comes from the single largest Cho component. Full methodology.