Soil series profile

Gruver soil series

Gruver is a well drained soil with a clay loam surface, mapped on 974,557 acres in 13 counties across 3 states. Hydrologic group C.

#187 by mapped area fine Aridic Paleustolls (Mollisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 7.2
Mapped area: 975k

Typical Gruver 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 Gruver horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–7 in (Ap)	Clay loam	7.2	31%	35%	2%
7–52 in (Bt)	Clay loam	7.9	38%	30%	0.3%
52–80 in (Btk)	Clay loam	8.2	38%	30%	0.3%

Representative values from the most extensive Gruver map unit (Gruver clay loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes, survey area OK139). 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 Gruver soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Gruver soils is neutral: pH 7.2, the range most vegetables, flowers and lawn grasses prefer.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 91% of mapped Gruver acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is loam (49% of mapped Gruver acres).

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

For lawns and yards

On 91% 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 91% of the acres in mapped Gruver soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (9% 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 Gruver soil is found

Mapped acres

Gruver is mapped in Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico.

Counties with the most mapped Gruver soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Texas County, OK	335,160	25.6%
Union County, NM	220,675	8.4%
Cimarron County, OK	84,761	7.3%
Dallam County, TX	80,601	8.4%
Sherman County, TX	79,452	13.5%
Hartley County, TX	49,913	5.3%
Colfax County, NM	46,616	1.9%
Moore County, TX	31,235	5.4%
Hansford County, TX	17,066	2.9%
Ochiltree County, TX	14,970	2.5%
Hutchinson County, TX	13,635	2.4%
Lipscomb County, TX	467	0.1%
Harding County, NM	6	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Gruver acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 91%

Not rated 9%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Gruver acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	91.2%
Not rated	8.8%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Gruver 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 0–2% (median 0%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 2%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 100%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Gruver acres.
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

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

B: moderate infiltration 0%

C: slow infiltration 91%

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%

Not rated 9%

Hydrologic soil group across mapped Gruver acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Gruver acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	0.0%
C: slow infiltration	91.2%
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%
Not rated	8.8%

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 Gruver (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 974,557 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Gruver components. The profile comes from the single largest Gruver component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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