Soil series profile
Grainola soil series
Grainola is a well drained soil with a silty clay loam surface, mapped on 597,924 acres in 37 counties across 3 states. Hydrologic group D.
- Drainage class
- Well drained 100% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- D 97% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 7.5 slightly alkaline · range 7.0–7.5
- Mapped area
- 598k acres in 37 counties, 3 states
Typical Grainola profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–5 in (A) | Silty clay loam | 7.5 | 31% | 20% | 0.75% |
| 5–12 in (BA) | Clay | 8.2 | 48% | 23% | 0.25% |
| 12–30 in (Bt) | Clay | 8.2 | 48% | 23% | 0.25% |
| 30–80 in (Cr) | Bedrock | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
What this means
What Grainola soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Grainola soils is slightly alkaline: pH 7.5 (most land between 7.0 and 7.5). Acid-loving plants such as blueberries and azaleas struggle without amended beds, and some trees and shrubs show iron chlorosis (yellow leaves with green veins).
Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 94% of mapped Grainola acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is clay loam (37% of mapped Grainola acres).
100% of mapped Grainola acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.
For lawns and yards
On 99% 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 94% of the acres in mapped Grainola soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (7% not rated, such as urban land, pits or water).
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 Grainola soil is found
Mapped acres
Grainola is mapped in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County, OK | 61,305 | 10.0% |
| Pottawatomie County, OK | 61,117 | 12.2% |
| Noble County, OK | 54,249 | 11.6% |
| Kingfisher County, OK | 48,336 | 8.4% |
| Garfield County, OK | 42,283 | 6.3% |
| Payne County, OK | 41,532 | 9.6% |
| Logan County, OK | 31,919 | 6.8% |
| Pawnee County, OK | 28,675 | 7.9% |
| Jefferson County, OK | 25,357 | 5.2% |
| Garvin County, OK | 21,634 | 4.2% |
| Grant County, OK | 20,829 | 3.3% |
| Osage County, OK | 18,080 | 1.3% |
| Kay County, OK | 17,229 | 2.9% |
| Oklahoma County, OK | 16,055 | 3.6% |
| Comanche County, OK | 14,659 | 2.2% |
| McClain County, OK | 12,777 | 3.5% |
| Cleveland County, OK | 11,782 | 3.4% |
| Canadian County, OK | 10,935 | 1.9% |
| Stephens County, OK | 10,212 | 1.8% |
| Blaine County, OK | 10,065 | 1.7% |
| Carter County, OK | 8,361 | 1.6% |
| Cotton County, OK | 7,148 | 1.7% |
| Seminole County, OK | 6,961 | 1.7% |
| Sumner County, KS | 6,553 | 0.9% |
| Okfuskee County, OK | 4,114 | 1.0% |
| Love County, OK | 1,870 | 0.6% |
| Grady County, OK | 1,294 | 0.2% |
| Murray County, OK | 1,116 | 0.4% |
| Creek County, OK | 646 | 0.1% |
| Pontotoc County, OK | 296 | 0.1% |
| Harper County, KS | 275 | 0.1% |
| Barber County, KS | 96 | 0.0% |
| Wichita County, TX | 80 | 0.0% |
| Caddo County, OK | 53 | 0.0% |
| Alfalfa County, OK | 22 | 0.0% |
| Kingman County, KS | 6 | 0.0% |
| Major County, OK | 4 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Grainola acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 93.5% |
| Not rated | 6.5% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Grainola 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 4–14% (median 7%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 0.8%.
Drainage class
Show as a table
| 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
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 | 2.0% |
| D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) | 96.6% |
| 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 | 1.5% |
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 Grainola (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 597,924 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Grainola components. The profile comes from the single largest Grainola component. Full methodology.