Soil series profile
Eram soil series
Eram is a moderately well drained soil with a silty clay loam surface, mapped on 986,494 acres in 51 counties across 3 states. Hydrologic group D.
- Drainage class
- Moderately well drained 100% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- D >99% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 6.1 slightly acidic · range 6.1–6.3
- Mapped area
- 986k acres in 51 counties, 3 states
Typical Eram profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–11 in (A) | Silty clay loam | 6.1 | 34% | 13% | 2% |
| 11–21 in (Bt) | Silty clay | 6.2 | 43% | 8% | 1.2% |
| 21–32 in (BC) | Silty clay | 6.3 | 45% | 8% | 0.5% |
| 32–79 in (Cr) | Bedrock | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
What this means
What Eram soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Eram soils is slightly acidic: pH 6.1 (most land between 6.1 and 6.3), the range most vegetables, flowers and lawn grasses prefer.
Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 99% of mapped Eram acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silty clay loam (62% of mapped Eram acres).
100% of mapped Eram 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.
A seasonal high water table comes within 18 inches of the surface on 48% of mapped acres, often in spring. Basements, sump pumps and lawns in low spots feel it first.
For a septic system
For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 100% of the acres in mapped Eram 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.
Where Eram soil is found
Mapped acres
Eram is mapped in Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Osage County, KS | 88,768 | 19.8% |
| Greenwood County, KS | 56,626 | 7.7% |
| Montgomery County, KS | 52,539 | 12.8% |
| Pittsburg County, OK | 52,324 | 6.2% |
| Coffey County, KS | 50,619 | 12.6% |
| Elk County, KS | 49,291 | 11.9% |
| Bates County, MO | 46,399 | 8.6% |
| Anderson County, KS | 38,089 | 10.2% |
| Miami County, KS | 37,814 | 10.2% |
| Labette County, KS | 36,404 | 8.8% |
| Linn County, KS | 35,859 | 9.4% |
| Franklin County, KS | 33,367 | 9.1% |
| Atoka County, OK | 33,146 | 5.3% |
| Okfuskee County, OK | 33,114 | 8.4% |
| Woodson County, KS | 29,727 | 9.3% |
| Wilson County, KS | 28,919 | 7.9% |
| Neosho County, KS | 23,285 | 6.4% |
| Okmulgee County, OK | 23,000 | 5.2% |
| Chautauqua County, KS | 22,634 | 5.5% |
| Washington County, OK | 21,750 | 8.2% |
| Lyon County, KS | 19,812 | 3.6% |
| Nowata County, OK | 16,371 | 4.6% |
| Craig County, OK | 15,880 | 3.3% |
| Rogers County, OK | 15,841 | 3.7% |
| Tulsa County, OK | 14,503 | 4.0% |
| Allen County, KS | 12,374 | 3.8% |
| Muskogee County, OK | 11,749 | 2.3% |
| Mayes County, OK | 10,972 | 2.6% |
| McIntosh County, OK | 9,155 | 2.3% |
| Hughes County, OK | 8,986 | 1.8% |
| Cherokee County, KS | 8,924 | 2.4% |
| Bourbon County, KS | 8,302 | 2.0% |
| Cass County, MO | 7,826 | 1.8% |
| Ottawa County, OK | 5,618 | 1.9% |
| Cherokee County, OK | 4,478 | 0.9% |
| Crawford County, KS | 4,209 | 1.1% |
| Adair County, OK | 4,050 | 1.1% |
| Wagoner County, OK | 2,913 | 0.8% |
| Henry County, MO | 2,420 | 0.5% |
| Creek County, OK | 1,977 | 0.3% |
| Seminole County, OK | 1,770 | 0.4% |
| Vernon County, MO | 1,495 | 0.3% |
| Johnson County, KS | 1,449 | 0.5% |
| Douglas County, KS | 1,200 | 0.4% |
| St. Clair County, MO | 172 | 0.0% |
| Delaware County, OK | 134 | 0.0% |
| Johnson County, MO | 73 | 0.0% |
| Barton County, MO | 64 | 0.0% |
| Wabaunsee County, KS | 62 | 0.0% |
| Osage County, OK | 36 | 0.0% |
| Shawnee County, KS | 4 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Eram acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 100.0% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Eram acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 1.8 feet (22 in) (median where reported); within 18 inches on 48% of acres.
- Flooding
- Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
- Slope
- Typically 2–12% (median 5%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 2%.
Drainage class
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Well drained | 0.0% |
| Moderately well drained | 100.0% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Very poorly drained | 0.0% |
Hydrologic soil group
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) | 0.0% |
| B: moderate infiltration | 0.0% |
| C: slow infiltration | 0.2% |
| D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) | 99.4% |
| 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 | 0.4% |
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 Eram (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 986,494 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Eram components. The profile comes from the single largest Eram component. Full methodology.