Soil series profile

Guyton soil series

Guyton is a poorly drained soil with a silt loam surface, mapped on 2,305,838 acres in 102 counties across 6 states. Hydrologic group C/D.

#26 by mapped area fine-silty Typic Glossaqualfs (Alfisols)

Drainage class: Poorly drained
Hydrologic group: C/D
Typical topsoil pH: 4.8
Mapped area: 2.3M

Typical Guyton 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 Guyton horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–4 in (A)	Silt loam	5.3	17%	13%	2.25%
4–19 in (Eg)	Silt loam	5.3	17%	13%	1%
19–25 in (Btg/E)	Silty clay loam	5.3	28%	7%	0.75%
25–73 in (Btg)	Silty clay loam	5.3	28%	7%	0.75%
73–80 in (Cg)	Silt loam	6.5	26%	7%	0.75%

Representative values from the most extensive Guyton map unit (Guyton silt loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded, survey area AR620). 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 Guyton soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Guyton soils is very strongly acidic: pH 4.8 (most land between 4.6 and 5.3). 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 88% of mapped Guyton acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silt loam (88% of mapped Guyton acres).

96% of mapped Guyton acres is somewhat poorly to very poorly drained, so soil stays soggy for long spells after rain and in wet seasons. Raised beds, plants that tolerate wet feet, and not working the soil while wet all help.

For lawns and yards

On 89% 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 91% 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 88% of the acres in mapped Guyton soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (12% 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.

Flooding is mapped on 90% of the acres (12% occasional, 69% frequent).

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 Guyton soil is found

Mapped acres

Guyton is mapped in Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Texas and Tennessee. The 60 counties with the most Guyton acres:

Counties with the most mapped Guyton soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Vernon Parish, LA	140,076	16.5%
Winn Parish, LA	116,739	19.2%
Allen Parish, LA	110,396	22.6%
Beauregard Parish, LA	105,474	14.2%
Union County, AR	96,501	14.4%
Calhoun County, AR	93,184	23.2%
Dallas County, AR	85,806	20.5%
Natchitoches Parish, LA	80,494	10.0%
Columbia County, AR	71,172	14.6%
Bienville Parish, LA	66,649	12.9%
Tangipahoa Parish, LA	62,424	12.5%
Calcasieu Parish, LA	57,921	8.7%
Union Parish, LA	54,410	9.7%
Sabine Parish, LA	53,779	9.7%
Ashley County, AR	53,363	9.1%
Rapides Parish, LA	51,275	6.1%
McCurtain County, OK	48,938	4.1%
De Soto Parish, LA	44,449	7.9%
Grant County, AR	43,726	10.8%
Ouachita Parish, LA	41,660	10.9%
Caddo Parish, LA	40,659	7.2%
Jackson Parish, LA	37,725	10.4%
Webster Parish, LA	37,058	9.6%
Nevada County, AR	36,506	9.2%
LaSalle Parish, LA	34,886	8.5%
Caldwell Parish, LA	34,832	10.3%
Claiborne Parish, LA	33,495	6.9%
Grant Parish, LA	31,970	7.8%
Red River Parish, LA	31,519	12.9%
St. Tammany Parish, LA	29,644	5.4%
Little River County, AR	29,287	8.6%
Hempstead County, AR	27,925	6.0%
Sevier County, AR	26,919	7.5%
Lafayette County, AR	26,864	8.0%
Bossier Parish, LA	26,390	5.0%
Clark County, AR	25,332	4.6%
Morehouse Parish, LA	24,708	4.9%
Catahoula Parish, LA	23,999	5.4%
Pushmataha County, OK	18,275	2.0%
Atoka County, OK	17,957	2.9%
St. Helena Parish, LA	14,592	5.6%
Sequoyah County, OK	14,550	3.4%
Lowndes County, MS	14,136	4.5%
Lincoln Parish, LA	14,067	4.7%
Hancock County, MS	13,218	4.4%
Choctaw County, OK	12,219	2.5%
Evangeline Parish, LA	11,973	2.8%
Copiah County, MS	11,516	2.4%
Lawrence County, MS	10,744	4.1%
East Feliciana Parish, LA	10,740	3.7%
Pike County, AR	10,049	2.6%
Livingston Parish, LA	9,599	2.3%
Lamar County, TX	8,474	1.4%
Marion County, MS	5,152	1.5%
Harrison County, TX	5,108	0.9%
Marion County, TX	4,497	1.8%
Shelby County, TX	4,004	0.8%
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA	3,935	1.4%
Cass County, TX	3,898	0.7%
Ouachita County, AR	3,819	0.8%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Guyton acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 88%

Not rated 12%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Guyton acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	88.1%
Not rated	11.9%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Guyton acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: About 8 inches (median where reported); within 18 inches on 91% of acres.
Flooding: Mapped as flooding on 90% of acres (12% occasional, 69% frequent).
Slope: Typically 0–0% (median 0%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 2.2%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 0%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 96%

Very poorly drained <1%

Not rated 4%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Guyton acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	0.0%
Moderately well drained	0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	95.5%
Very poorly drained	0.6%
Not rated	3.8%

Hydrologic soil group

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

B: moderate infiltration 0%

C: slow infiltration <1%

D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) <1%

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 88%

Not rated 11%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Guyton acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	0.0%
C: slow infiltration	0.7%
D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet)	0.3%
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	87.6%
Not rated	11.4%

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 Guyton (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 2,305,838 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Guyton components. The profile comes from the single largest Guyton component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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