Soil series profile

Delnorte soil series

Delnorte is a well drained soil with a gravelly loam surface, mapped on 671,450 acres in 16 counties across 3 states. Hydrologic group D.

#365 by mapped area loamy-skeletal Typic Paleorthids (Aridisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: D
Typical topsoil pH: 8.2
Mapped area: 671k

Typical Delnorte 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 Delnorte horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–5 in (H1)	Gravelly loam	8.2	12%	45%	0.75%
5–12 in (H2)	Very gravelly loam	8.2	15%	44%	0.55%
12–32 in (H3)	Cemented material	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
32–80 in (H4)	Very gravelly loam	8.2	12%	45%	0.55%

Representative values from the most extensive Delnorte map unit (Delnorte-Chilicotal association, rolling, survey area TX389). 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 Delnorte soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Delnorte soils is moderately alkaline: pH 8.2 (most land between 8.0 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).

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 100% of mapped Delnorte acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is very gravelly loam (42% of mapped Delnorte acres).

100% of mapped Delnorte 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 Delnorte 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 Delnorte soil is found

Mapped acres

Delnorte is mapped in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico.

Counties with the most mapped Delnorte soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Reeves County, TX	265,070	15.7%
Ward County, TX	99,485	18.6%
Sierra County, NM	85,710	3.5%
Pecos County, TX	61,446	2.0%
Pinal County, AZ	46,055	1.4%
Pima County, AZ	36,835	0.7%
El Paso County, TX	31,071	4.8%
Maricopa County, AZ	13,293	0.2%
Doña Ana County, NM	10,650	0.4%
Graham County, AZ	5,819	0.2%
Gila County, AZ	4,561	0.3%
Loving County, TX	4,558	1.1%
Cochise County, AZ	4,180	0.1%
Lincoln County, NM	1,540	0.1%
Socorro County, NM	908	0.0%
Otero County, NM	270	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Delnorte acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 100%

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

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

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Delnorte 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 3–9% (median 9%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 0.8%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 6%

Well drained 93%

Moderately well drained 2%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Delnorte acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	5.9%
Well drained	92.6%
Moderately well drained	1.6%
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 9%

D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) 91%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Delnorte acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	0.0%
C: slow infiltration	8.8%
D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet)	91.2%
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%

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 Delnorte (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 671,450 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Delnorte components. The profile comes from the single largest Delnorte component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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