Soil series profile

Gilead soil series

Gilead is a moderately well drained soil with a loamy sand surface, mapped on 135,820 acres in 7 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group C.

#2712 by mapped area fine Aquic Hapludults (Ultisols)

Drainage class: Moderately well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 5.5
Mapped area: 136k

Typical Gilead 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 Gilead horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–5 in (Ap)	Loamy sand	5.5	7%	84%	0.75%
5–8 in (Bt1)	Sandy loam	5.0	16%	65%	0.25%
8–42 in (Bt2)	Sandy clay	5.0	45%	48%	0.25%
42–52 in (Bt3)	Sandy clay loam	5.0	23%	60%	0.25%
52–76 in (C1)	Clay	5.0	40%	30%	0.25%
76–80 in (C2)	Gravelly sand	5.0	7%	91%	0.1%

Representative values from the most extensive Gilead map unit (Gilead loamy sand, 2 to 8 percent slopes, survey area NC085). 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 Gilead soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Gilead soils is strongly acidic: pH 5.5 (most land between 5.0 and 5.5). 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.

Sandy topsoil covers 55% of mapped Gilead acres. It drains fast and warms early in spring, but dries out and loses nutrients quickly: mulch, compost and steady watering help. The most common surface texture is loamy sand (55% of mapped Gilead acres).

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

For lawns and yards

On 84% 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 84% of the acres in mapped Gilead soils very limited, 16% 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 Gilead soil is found

Mapped acres

Gilead is mapped in North Carolina and Alabama.

Counties with the most mapped Gilead soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Johnston County, NC	38,990	8.4%
Harnett County, NC	36,544	10.3%
Elmore County, AL	22,242	6.2%
Hoke County, NC	12,772	5.7%
Moore County, NC	11,942	3.0%
Cumberland County, NC	7,630	2.1%
Lee County, NC	5,700	3.9%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Gilead acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 16%

Very limited 84%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Gilead acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	16.4%
Very limited	83.6%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Gilead 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 5–12% (median 5%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 0.8%.

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

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Drainage class across mapped Gilead 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 16%

C: slow infiltration 84%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Gilead acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	16.4%
C: slow infiltration	83.6%
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 Gilead (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 135,820 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Gilead components. The profile comes from the single largest Gilead component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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