Soil series profile

Kimberlina soil series

Kimberlina is a well drained soil with a fine sandy loam surface, mapped on 324,322 acres in 5 counties in CA. Hydrologic group A.

#1022 by mapped area coarse-loamy Typic Torriorthents (Entisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: A
Typical topsoil pH: 8.0
Mapped area: 324k

Typical Kimberlina 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 Kimberlina horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–9 in (Ap)	Fine sandy loam	8.0	12%	71%	0.75%
9–45 in (C)	Fine sandy loam	8.2	14%	70%	0.1%
45–71 in (2C)	Silt loam	8.4	17%	29%	0.1%

Representative values from the most extensive Kimberlina map unit (Kimberlina fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes MLRA 17, survey area CA666). 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 Kimberlina soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Kimberlina soils is moderately alkaline: pH 8.0 (most land between 7.5 and 8.2). 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).

Sandy topsoil covers 65% of mapped Kimberlina acres. It drains fast and warms early in spring, but dries out and loses nutrients quickly: mulch, compost and steady watering help. The most common surface texture is fine sandy loam (63% of mapped Kimberlina acres).

90% of mapped Kimberlina acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

For lawns and yards

60% of mapped acres is in hydrologic group A, where water soaks in fast. Lawns there dry out quickly; deeper, less frequent watering and organic matter help.

For a septic system

For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 18% of the acres in mapped Kimberlina soils very limited, 58% somewhat limited and 13% not limited (11% not rated, such as urban land, pits or water).

Flooding is mapped on 51% of the acres (<1% occasional, 0% 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 Kimberlina soil is found

Mapped acres

Kimberlina is mapped in California.

Counties with the most mapped Kimberlina soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Kern County, CA	188,164	3.3%
Kings County, CA	52,632	5.8%
San Bernardino County, CA	38,360	0.7%
Fresno County, CA	14,945	0.3%
Tulare County, CA	9,388	0.4%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Kimberlina acres

Not limited 13%

Somewhat limited 58%

Very limited 18%

Not rated 11%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Kimberlina acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	12.9%
Somewhat limited	57.7%
Very limited	18.3%
Not rated	11.0%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Kimberlina acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: None reported within about 6.5 feet (median where reported).
Flooding: Mapped as flooding on 51% of acres (<1% occasional, 0% frequent).
Slope: Typically 1–4% (median 1%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 0.8%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 90%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

Not rated 10%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Kimberlina acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	90.2%
Moderately well drained	0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%
Not rated	9.8%

Hydrologic soil group

A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) 60%

B: moderate infiltration 11%

C: slow infiltration 18%

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 11%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Kimberlina acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	59.7%
B: moderate infiltration	11.0%
C: slow infiltration	18.2%
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	11.0%

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 Kimberlina (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 324,322 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Kimberlina components. The profile comes from the single largest Kimberlina component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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