Soil series profile

Grenada soil series

Grenada is a moderately well drained soil with a silt loam surface, mapped on 1,202,382 acres in 67 counties across 5 states. Hydrologic group C/D.

#126 by mapped area fine-silty Oxyaquic Fraglossudalfs (Alfisols)

Drainage class
Moderately well drained
>99% of mapped acres
Hydrologic group
C/D
41% of mapped acres
Typical topsoil pH
5.3
strongly acidic · range 5.3–6.0
Mapped area
1.2M
acres in 67 counties, 5 states

Typical Grenada profile

Texture and pH by depth

Typical Grenada soil profile by depth 0 in 20 in 40 in 60 in 80 in 0–6 in · Ap · pH 5.3 · 14% clay Silt loam 6–17 in · Bw · pH 5.3 · 24% clay Silt loam 17–20 in · E · pH 5.3 · 14% clay Silt loam 20–83 in · Btx · pH 5.3 · 24% clay Silt loam
Depth to scale. More strongly shaded layers hold more clay. Horizon names are the soil survey's (A = topsoil, B = subsoil, C = parent material).
Show as a table
Typical Grenada horizons (representative values)
Depth Texture pH Clay Sand Organic matter
0–6 in (Ap) Silt loam 5.3 14% 3% 1.25%
6–17 in (Bw) Silt loam 5.3 24% 3% 0.3%
17–20 in (E) Silt loam 5.3 14% 2% 0.2%
20–83 in (Btx) Silt loam 5.3 24% 3% 0.2%

Representative values from the most extensive Grenada map unit (Grenada-Calhoun silt loams complex, 0 to 3 percent slopes, survey area LA123). Other map units of this series vary within the series range.

Hands holding dark garden soil
Stock photo for illustration, not a sample of this soil series. Credit on the Sources & method page.

What this means

What Grenada soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Grenada soils is strongly acidic: pH 5.3 (most land between 5.3 and 6.0). 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 99% of mapped Grenada acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silt loam (99% of mapped Grenada acres).

>99% of mapped Grenada 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.

A seasonal high water table comes within 18 inches of the surface on 45% 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 99% of the acres in mapped Grenada soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (2% 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.

Generated from the mapped numbers above using fixed rules, not a site visit. See how these notes are written.

Where Grenada soil is found

Mapped acres

Grenada is mapped in Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Kentucky and Louisiana. The 60 counties with the most Grenada acres:

Counties with the most mapped Grenada soil
County Acres Share of county land
Fayette County, TN 116,354 26.0%
Shelby County, TN 81,712 16.7%
West Carroll Parish, LA 63,897 27.9%
Ashley County, AR 62,596 10.7%
Drew County, AR 59,750 11.2%
Graves County, KY 56,921 16.0%
Calloway County, KY 50,927 22.3%
Obion County, TN 49,298 13.9%
Tate County, MS 45,286 18.5%
Crockett County, TN 44,347 22.8%
Weakley County, TN 38,249 10.3%
Ballard County, KY 36,374 22.6%
Panola County, MS 35,091 8.4%
Marshall County, KY 32,153 15.2%
Gibson County, TN 30,643 8.0%
McCracken County, KY 29,399 18.4%
Monroe County, AR 24,534 6.3%
DeSoto County, MS 22,727 7.6%
Carroll County, TN 21,421 5.6%
Madison County, TN 20,917 5.9%
Dyer County, TN 20,577 6.2%
Hinds County, MS 16,551 3.0%
Madison County, MS 14,876 3.3%
Fulton County, KY 14,059 10.6%
Lincoln County, AR 13,535 3.8%
Claiborne County, MS 13,282 4.5%
Grenada County, MS 12,073 4.9%
Marshall County, MS 12,023 2.8%
Lee County, AR 11,609 3.0%
Richland Parish, LA 11,225 3.2%
Phillips County, AR 11,133 2.5%
Tipton County, TN 10,165 3.5%
Chicot County, AR 9,401 2.4%
Woodruff County, AR 7,838 2.1%
Henry County, TN 7,184 2.0%
Haywood County, TN 7,155 1.9%
Lauderdale County, TN 6,377 2.1%
Jefferson County, AR 5,856 1.0%
Craighead County, AR 5,661 1.3%
Yazoo County, MS 5,434 1.0%
Carroll County, MS 5,346 1.4%
Montgomery County, MS 4,951 2.1%
Warren County, MS 4,645 1.3%
Yalobusha County, MS 4,615 1.6%
Walthall County, MS 4,473 1.8%
Poinsett County, AR 4,144 0.9%
Copiah County, MS 3,998 0.8%
Lafayette County, MS 3,722 1.0%
Cross County, AR 3,537 0.9%
Holmes County, MS 3,062 0.7%
Attala County, MS 2,881 0.6%
Prairie County, AR 2,725 0.7%
Wilkinson County, MS 2,622 0.6%
Benton County, MS 2,497 1.0%
White County, AR 2,054 0.3%
Tallahatchie County, MS 1,971 0.5%
Lonoke County, AR 1,701 0.3%
Franklin County, MS 1,516 0.4%
Rankin County, MS 1,246 0.3%
Lincoln County, MS 1,219 0.3%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Grenada acres

Not limited 0%
Somewhat limited 0%
Very limited 99%
Not rated 2%
Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Grenada acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.
Show as a table
Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Grenada acres.
CategoryShare of acres
Not limited0.0%
Somewhat limited0.0%
Very limited98.5%
Not rated1.5%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Grenada acres

Depth to seasonal high water table
About 1.7 feet (20 in) (median where reported); within 18 inches on 45% of acres.
Flooding
Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
Slope
Typically 2–7% (median 4%).
Topsoil organic matter
Median 1.2%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%
Somewhat excessively drained 0%
Well drained <1%
Moderately well drained >99%
Somewhat poorly drained 0%
Poorly drained 0%
Very poorly drained 0%
Not rated <1%
Drainage class across mapped Grenada acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.
Show as a table
Drainage class across mapped Grenada acres.
CategoryShare of acres
Excessively drained0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained0.0%
Well drained0.1%
Moderately well drained99.7%
Somewhat poorly drained0.0%
Poorly drained0.0%
Very poorly drained0.0%
Not rated0.3%

Hydrologic soil group

A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) 0%
B: moderate infiltration 0%
C: slow infiltration 25%
D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) 33%
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 41%
Not rated 2%
Hydrologic soil group across mapped Grenada acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.
Show as a table
Hydrologic soil group across mapped Grenada acres.
CategoryShare of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)0.0%
B: moderate infiltration0.0%
C: slow infiltration25.0%
D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet)33.0%
A/D: D as is, A if drained0.0%
B/D: D as is, B if drained0.0%
C/D: D as is, C if drained40.5%
Not rated1.5%

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 Grenada (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 1,202,382 acres.
Method
Shares are by mapped acres of Grenada components. The profile comes from the single largest Grenada component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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