Soil series profile

Dunellen soil series

Dunellen is a well drained soil with a sandy loam surface, mapped on 32,091 acres in 6 counties in NJ. Hydrologic group A.

#7995 by mapped area coarse-loamy Typic Hapludults (Ultisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: A
Typical topsoil pH: 5.0
Mapped area: 32k

Typical Dunellen 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 Dunellen horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–8 in (A1)	Sandy loam	5.0	13%	68%	3%
8–14 in (A2)	Sandy loam	5.0	13%	68%	3%
14–20 in (BA)	Sandy loam	5.0	12%	65%	0.75%
20–31 in (Bt)	Sandy loam	5.0	12%	65%	0.75%
31–42 in (C)	Sandy loam	5.0	12%	65%	0.75%
42–70 in (2C)	Stratified gravelly sand to sand to loamy sand	5.6	10%	90%	0.75%

Representative values from the most extensive Dunellen map unit (Dunellen-Urban land complex, 3 to 8 percent slopes, survey area NJ003). 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 Dunellen soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Dunellen soils is very strongly acidic: pH 5.0. 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 Dunellen acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is sandy loam (76% of mapped Dunellen acres).

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

For lawns and yards

100% of mapped acres is in hydrologic group A, where water soaks in fast. Lawns there dry out quickly; deeper, less frequent watering and organic matter help.

For a septic system

For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 100% of the acres in mapped Dunellen 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 Dunellen soil is found

Mapped acres

Dunellen is mapped in New Jersey.

Counties with the most mapped Dunellen soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Bergen County, NJ	22,683	15.2%
Somerset County, NJ	3,282	1.7%
Essex County, NJ	2,497	3.1%
Middlesex County, NJ	1,899	1.0%
Union County, NJ	1,173	1.8%
Passaic County, NJ	558	0.5%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Dunellen acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 100%

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

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

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Dunellen 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 1–12% (median 4%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 3%.

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

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Drainage class across mapped Dunellen 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) 100%

B: moderate infiltration 0%

C: slow infiltration 0%

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%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Dunellen acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	100.0%
B: moderate infiltration	0.0%
C: slow infiltration	0.0%
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%

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 Dunellen (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 32,091 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Dunellen components. The profile comes from the single largest Dunellen component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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