Soil series profile

Corryton soil series

Corryton is a well drained soil with a loam surface, mapped on 45,671 acres in 7 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group C.

#6358 by mapped area fine Typic Hapludults (Ultisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 5.5
Mapped area: 46k

Typical Corryton 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 Corryton horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–6 in (H1)	Loam	5.5	18%	43%	1.25%
6–13 in (H2)	Clay loam	5.5	30%	34%	0.75%
13–61 in (H3)	Clay	5.3	43%	28%	0.25%

Representative values from the most extensive Corryton map unit (Corryton-Townley complex, 5 to 12 percent slopes, survey area TN093). 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 Corryton soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Corryton soils is strongly acidic: pH 5.5 (most land between 5.5 and 6.2). Most vegetables and lawn grasses do best around 6.0 to 7.0, so lime is often needed; blueberries, azaleas and rhododendrons like it as it is.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 100% of mapped Corryton acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is loam (65% of mapped Corryton acres).

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

For lawns and yards

On 97% 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 Corryton 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 Corryton soil is found

Mapped acres

Corryton is mapped in Tennessee and Georgia.

Counties with the most mapped Corryton soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Knox County, TN	28,586	8.8%
McMinn County, TN	8,955	3.3%
Gordon County, GA	6,546	3.6%
Meigs County, TN	677	0.5%
Sevier County, TN	519	0.1%
Cocke County, TN	388	0.1%
Roane County, TN	0	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Corryton acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 100%

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

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

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Corryton 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 3–19% (median 9%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 1.2%.

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 Corryton acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Drainage class across mapped Corryton 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 97%

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 3%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Corryton acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	0.0%
C: slow infiltration	97.2%
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	2.8%

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 Corryton (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 45,671 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Corryton components. The profile comes from the single largest Corryton component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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