Soil series profile

Exum soil series

Exum is a moderately well drained soil with a very fine sandy loam surface, mapped on 116,794 acres in 21 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group C.

#3090 by mapped area fine-silty Aquic Paleudults (Ultisols)

Drainage class: Moderately well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 4.8
Mapped area: 117k

Typical Exum 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 Exum horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–8 in (Ap)	Very fine sandy loam	4.8	12%	64%	1.25%
8–12 in (E)	Silt loam	4.8	9%	21%	0.5%
12–70 in (Bt)	Clay loam	4.5	28%	27%	0.25%
70–100 in (C)	Loam	4.5	20%	37%	0.25%

Representative values from the most extensive Exum map unit (Exum fine sandy loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes, survey area NC147). 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 Exum soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Exum soils is very strongly acidic: pH 4.8. 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 Exum acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is very fine sandy loam (75% of mapped Exum acres).

100% of mapped Exum 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 Exum 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 Exum soil is found

Mapped acres

Exum is mapped in North Carolina and Virginia.

Counties with the most mapped Exum soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Pitt County, NC	29,750	7.8%
Bertie County, NC	17,323	4.3%
Pender County, NC	10,033	2.0%
Bladen County, NC	9,048	1.8%
Edgecombe County, NC	7,288	2.4%
Halifax County, NC	6,621	1.6%
Robeson County, NC	5,081	0.9%
Wilson County, NC	4,203	1.9%
Cumberland County, NC	4,197	1.1%
Greene County, NC	4,028	2.5%
Sampson County, NC	3,990	0.7%
Wayne County, NC	3,626	1.1%
Harnett County, NC	3,002	0.8%
Columbus County, NC	2,167	0.4%
Craven County, NC	1,918	0.5%
Gates County, NC	1,350	0.7%
Jones County, NC	1,153	0.4%
Northampton County, NC	632	0.2%
Surry County, VA	620	0.4%
Hertford County, NC	588	0.3%
Southampton County, VA	175	0.1%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Exum acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 100%

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

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

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Exum 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 1–1% (median 1%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 1.2%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 0%

Moderately well drained 100%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Exum acres.
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

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

B: moderate infiltration 0%

C: slow infiltration 100%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Exum acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	0.0%
C: slow infiltration	100.0%
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 Exum (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 116,794 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Exum components. The profile comes from the single largest Exum component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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