Soil series profile

Kalamazoo soil series

Kalamazoo is a well drained soil with a loam surface, mapped on 300,624 acres in 12 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group C.

#1135 by mapped area fine-loamy Typic Hapludalfs (Alfisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 5.8
Mapped area: 301k

Typical Kalamazoo 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 Kalamazoo horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–10 in (Ap)	Loam	5.8	11%	48%	1.5%
10–27 in (Bt1)	Sandy clay loam	5.4	23%	51%	0.4%
27–35 in (Bt2)	Sandy loam	5.0	12%	71%	0.2%
35–52 in (2BC)	Loamy sand	5.5	5%	87%	0%
52–80 in (2C)	Gravelly sand	7.8	1%	95%	0%

Representative values from the most extensive Kalamazoo map unit (Kalamazoo loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes, survey area MI077). 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 Kalamazoo soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Kalamazoo soils is moderately acidic: pH 5.8. Many vegetables grow well here, and some gardens benefit from a little lime. Test before adding any.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 100% of mapped Kalamazoo acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is loam (98% of mapped Kalamazoo acres).

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

For lawns and yards

On 94% 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 100% of the acres in mapped Kalamazoo soils very limited, 0% 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 Kalamazoo soil is found

Mapped acres

Kalamazoo is mapped in Michigan and Indiana.

Counties with the most mapped Kalamazoo soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Kalamazoo County, MI	92,202	25.7%
Cass County, MI	84,256	26.7%
Calhoun County, MI	63,772	14.1%
Barry County, MI	17,894	5.0%
Van Buren County, MI	17,746	4.6%
St. Joseph County, MI	11,168	3.5%
Tippecanoe County, IN	5,767	1.9%
Wabash County, IN	3,230	1.2%
Kent County, MI	2,509	0.5%
LaPorte County, IN	1,518	0.4%
St. Joseph County, IN	385	0.1%
Porter County, IN	177	0.1%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Kalamazoo acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 100%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Kalamazoo acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	100.0%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Kalamazoo 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 1–7% (median 3%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 1.5%.

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

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Drainage class across mapped Kalamazoo 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 6%

C: slow infiltration 94%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Kalamazoo acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	6.4%
C: slow infiltration	93.6%
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 Kalamazoo (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 300,624 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Kalamazoo components. The profile comes from the single largest Kalamazoo component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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