Soil series profile

Dodon soil series

Dodon is a moderately well drained soil with a fine sandy loam surface, mapped on 85,750 acres in 15 counties across 4 states. Hydrologic group C.

#3982 by mapped area fine-loamy Aquic Hapludults (Ultisols)

Drainage class: Moderately well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 4.9
Mapped area: 86k

Typical Dodon 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 Dodon horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–9 in (Ap)	Fine sandy loam	4.9	10%	67%	4.42%
9–36 in (Bt)	Sandy clay loam	4.8	30%	47%	0.1%
36–48 in (BC)	Sandy clay loam	4.5	23%	54%	0%
48–64 in (CB)	Fine sandy loam	4.5	12%	78%	0%

Representative values from the most extensive Dodon map unit (Downer-Dodon complex, 25 to 80 percent slopes, survey area MD009). 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 Dodon soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Dodon soils is very strongly acidic: pH 4.9 (most land between 4.7 and 4.9). 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 >99% of mapped Dodon acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is fine sandy loam (77% of mapped Dodon acres).

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

For lawns and yards

On 91% 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 Dodon 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 Dodon soil is found

Mapped acres

Dodon is mapped in Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania.

Counties with the most mapped Dodon soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Calvert County, MD	31,772	23.3%
Prince George's County, MD	23,360	7.6%
Anne Arundel County, MD	17,014	5.9%
Charles County, MD	11,262	3.8%
Salem County, NJ	612	0.3%
St. Mary's County, MD	538	0.2%
Harford County, MD	401	0.1%
Cumberland County, NJ	316	0.1%
Cecil County, MD	151	0.1%
Baltimore County, MD	112	0.0%
Middlesex County, NJ	95	0.0%
New Castle County, DE	92	0.0%
Bucks County, PA	14	0.0%
Chester County, PA	7	0.0%
Baltimore city, MD	3	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Dodon acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited >99%

Not rated <1%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Dodon acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	99.3%
Not rated	0.7%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Dodon acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: About 2.0 feet (24 in) (median where reported).
Flooding: Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
Slope: Typically 3–45% (median 13%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 4.4%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 0%

Moderately well drained >99%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

Not rated <1%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Dodon acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	0.0%
Moderately well drained	99.7%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%
Not rated	0.3%

Hydrologic soil group

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

B: moderate infiltration 8%

C: slow infiltration 59%

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 32%

C/D: D as is, C if drained 0%

Not rated <1%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Dodon acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	8.4%
C: slow infiltration	59.3%
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	31.9%
C/D: D as is, C if drained	0.0%
Not rated	0.3%

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 Dodon (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 85,750 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Dodon components. The profile comes from the single largest Dodon component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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