Soil series profile

Dutchess soil series

Dutchess is a well drained soil with a channery loam surface, mapped on 128,778 acres in 11 counties across 5 states. Hydrologic group B.

#2831 by mapped area coarse-loamy Typic Dystrochrepts (Inceptisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: B
Typical topsoil pH: 5.3
Mapped area: 129k

Typical Dutchess 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 Dutchess horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–2 in (O1)	Slightly decomposed plant material	4.3	7%	48%	85%
2–7 in (H1)	Channery loam	5.3	7%	48%	5.5%
7–28 in (H2)	Channery loam	5.3	7%	48%	0.5%
28–72 in (H3)	Channery loam	5.8	7%	48%	0.5%

Representative values from the most extensive Dutchess map unit (Dutchess channery loam, 25 to 60 percent slopes, very stony, survey area VT003). 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 Dutchess soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Dutchess soils is strongly acidic: pH 5.3. 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 93% of mapped Dutchess acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silt loam (65% of mapped Dutchess acres).

93% of mapped Dutchess acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

For lawns and yards

Most land is in hydrologic groups B and C, where rain soaks in at a moderate pace.

For a septic system

For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 49% of the acres in mapped Dutchess soils very limited, 44% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (8% not rated, such as urban land, pits or water).

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 Dutchess soil is found

Mapped acres

Dutchess is mapped in Vermont, New York, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Massachusetts.

Counties with the most mapped Dutchess soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Dutchess County, NY	42,480	8.3%
Bennington County, VT	32,043	7.4%
Rutland County, VT	20,525	3.5%
Cheshire County, NH	13,907	3.1%
Sullivan County, NH	9,814	2.9%
Sussex County, NJ	4,009	1.2%
Addison County, VT	2,686	0.5%
Warren County, NJ	1,853	0.8%
Franklin County, MA	1,203	0.3%
Franklin County, VT	135	0.0%
Grand Isle County, VT	123	0.2%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Dutchess acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 44%

Very limited 49%

Not rated 8%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Dutchess acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	43.6%
Very limited	48.5%
Not rated	7.8%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Dutchess 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 5–43% (median 20%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 5.5%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 93%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

Not rated 8%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Dutchess acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	92.5%
Moderately well drained	0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%
Not rated	7.5%

Hydrologic soil group

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

B: moderate infiltration 93%

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%

Not rated 8%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Dutchess acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	92.5%
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%
Not rated	7.5%

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 Dutchess (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 128,778 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Dutchess components. The profile comes from the single largest Dutchess component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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