Soil series profile

Cleavage soil series

Cleavage is a well drained soil with a gravelly loam surface, mapped on 573,136 acres in 13 counties across 4 states. Hydrologic group D.

#459 by mapped area loamy-skeletal Aridic Lithic Argixerolls (Mollisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: D
Typical topsoil pH: 7.2
Mapped area: 573k

Typical Cleavage 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).

Show as a table

Typical Cleavage horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–2 in (A1)	Gravelly loam	7.2	20%	43%	2%
2–9 in (A2)	Very gravelly loam	7.2	20%	43%	2%
9–15 in (Bt)	Very cobbly clay loam	7.2	30%	31%	0.75%
15–79 in (R)	Bedrock	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Representative values from the most extensive Cleavage map unit (Clanalpine-Segura-Cleavage association, survey area NV782). 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 Cleavage soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Cleavage soils is neutral: pH 7.2, the range most vegetables, flowers and lawn grasses prefer.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 100% of mapped Cleavage acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is extremely gravelly loam (44% of mapped Cleavage acres).

100% of mapped Cleavage acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

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 Cleavage 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 Cleavage soil is found

Mapped acres

Cleavage is mapped in Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Utah.

Counties with the most mapped Cleavage soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Elko County, NV	323,606	3.1%
Nye County, NV	59,575	0.7%
Lander County, NV	43,637	1.2%
Humboldt County, NV	40,934	0.6%
Owyhee County, ID	40,144	1.0%
Pershing County, NV	12,264	0.3%
Eureka County, NV	12,153	0.5%
Churchill County, NV	7,372	0.3%
Lake County, OR	3,011	0.1%
Bear Lake County, ID	2,137	0.4%
White Pine County, NV	647	0.0%
Harney County, OR	586	0.0%
Rich County, UT	40	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Cleavage acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 100%

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

Show as a table

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

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Cleavage 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 10–33% (median 20%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 2%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 100%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

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

Show as a table

Drainage class across mapped Cleavage acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	100.0%
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 Cleavage acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

Show as a table

Hydrologic soil group across mapped Cleavage 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 Cleavage (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 573,136 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Cleavage components. The profile comes from the single largest Cleavage component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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