Soil series profile

Clovis soil series

Clovis is a well drained soil with a loamy sand surface, mapped on 987,424 acres in 13 counties across 3 states. Hydrologic group B.

#180 by mapped area fine-loamy Ustic Calciargids (Aridisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: B
Typical topsoil pH: 7.9
Mapped area: 987k

Typical Clovis 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 Clovis horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–3 in (A)	Loamy sand	8.2	6%	85%	0.75%
3–8 in (Bw)	Sandy clay loam	8.2	25%	57%	0.75%
8–16 in (Bt)	Sandy clay loam	7.0	25%	57%	0.25%
16–24 in (Btk)	Sandy clay loam	8.2	25%	57%	0.25%
24–30 in (Bk)	Clay loam	8.2	31%	35%	0.25%
30–58 in (2C)	Loamy sand	8.2	8%	84%	0.25%
58–64 in (3Bk)	Sandy loam	8.2	10%	67%	0.25%

Representative values from the most extensive Clovis map unit (Clovis-Palma association, undulating, survey area AZ635). 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 Clovis soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Clovis soils is moderately alkaline: pH 7.9 (most land between 7.2 and 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).

Sandy topsoil covers 63% of mapped Clovis acres. It drains fast and warms early in spring, but dries out and loses nutrients quickly: mulch, compost and steady watering help. The most common surface texture is loamy sand (44% of mapped Clovis acres).

>99% of mapped Clovis acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

For lawns and yards

Most land is in hydrologic groups B and C, where rain soaks in at a moderate pace.

For a septic system

For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 13% of the acres in mapped Clovis soils very limited, 86% somewhat limited and 1% not limited.

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 Clovis soil is found

Mapped acres

Clovis is mapped in New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.

Counties with the most mapped Clovis soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Apache County, AZ	436,332	6.5%
Guadalupe County, NM	232,345	12.0%
Torrance County, NM	109,410	5.1%
Socorro County, NM	72,315	2.0%
Lincoln County, NM	48,142	1.8%
Sandoval County, NM	40,413	2.0%
Santa Fe County, NM	16,250	1.6%
De Baca County, NM	11,450	0.8%
Coconino County, AZ	11,336	0.1%
Washington County, UT	8,719	0.8%
Valencia County, NM	600	0.1%
Los Alamos County, NM	104	0.4%
Rio Arriba County, NM	8	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Clovis acres

Not limited 1%

Somewhat limited 86%

Very limited 13%

Not rated <1%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Clovis acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	1.2%
Somewhat limited	85.6%
Very limited	12.9%
Not rated	0.4%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Clovis 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 4%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 0.8%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained >99%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

Not rated <1%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Clovis acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	99.6%
Moderately well drained	0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%
Not rated	0.4%

Hydrologic soil group

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

B: moderate infiltration 87%

C: slow infiltration 12%

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 <1%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Clovis acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	87.3%
C: slow infiltration	12.3%
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	0.4%

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 Clovis (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 987,424 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Clovis components. The profile comes from the single largest Clovis component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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