Soil series profile

Dandridge soil series

Dandridge is a excessively drained soil with a channery silt loam surface, mapped on 195,815 acres in 9 counties across 3 states. Hydrologic group D.

#1861 by mapped area clayey-skeletal Ruptic-Alfic Eutrochrepts (Inceptisols)

Drainage class: Excessively drained
Hydrologic group: D
Typical topsoil pH: 7.0
Mapped area: 196k

Typical Dandridge 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 Dandridge horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–15 in (H1)	Channery silt loam	7.0	27%	13%	1.25%
15–19 in (Cr)	Bedrock	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Representative values from the most extensive Dandridge map unit (Dandridge shaly silt loam, eroded rolling phase, survey area TN059). 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 Dandridge soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Dandridge soils is neutral: pH 7.0, the range most vegetables, flowers and lawn grasses prefer.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers >99% of mapped Dandridge acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is channery silt loam (51% of mapped Dandridge acres).

100% of mapped Dandridge acres is excessively or somewhat excessively drained: water moves through fast, so gardens need more frequent watering in dry spells.

For lawns and yards

On >99% 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 >99% of the acres in mapped Dandridge 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 Dandridge soil is found

Mapped acres

Dandridge is mapped in Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia.

Counties with the most mapped Dandridge soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Greene County, TN	66,699	18.2%
Hawkins County, TN	42,488	13.6%
Jefferson County, TN	25,580	14.4%
Metcalfe County, KY	19,310	10.4%
Blount County, TN	16,148	4.6%
Hamblen County, TN	12,607	12.2%
Monroe County, TN	11,449	2.8%
Bradley County, TN	995	0.5%
Clarke County, VA	539	0.6%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Dandridge acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited >99%

Not rated <1%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Dandridge acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	99.9%
Not rated	0.1%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Dandridge 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 10–48% (median 28%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 1.2%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 100%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 0%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Dandridge acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	100.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	0.0%
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) >99%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Dandridge 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)	99.9%
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	0.1%

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 Dandridge (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 195,815 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Dandridge components. The profile comes from the single largest Dandridge component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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