Soil series profile

Kingsley soil series

Kingsley is a well drained soil with a sandy loam surface, mapped on 51,594 acres in 7 counties in MN. Hydrologic group C.

#5798 by mapped area coarse-loamy Mollic Hapludalfs (Alfisols)

Drainage class
Well drained
100% of mapped acres
Hydrologic group
C
100% of mapped acres
Typical topsoil pH
6.1
slightly acidic · range 6.1–6.2
Mapped area
52k
acres in 7 counties, 1 state

Typical Kingsley profile

Texture and pH by depth

Typical Kingsley soil profile by depth 0 in 10 in 20 in 30 in 40 in 50 in 0–8 in · A · pH 6.1 · 7% clay Sandy loam 8–12 in · E · pH 6.1 · 7% clay Loamy sand 12–38 in · Bt,Bw · pH 6.2 · 12% clay Sandy loam 38–60 in · C · pH 6.7 · 8% clay Sandy 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 Kingsley horizons (representative values)
Depth Texture pH Clay Sand Organic matter
0–8 in (A) Sandy loam 6.1 7% 69% 2.5%
8–12 in (E) Loamy sand 6.1 7% 84% 0.25%
12–38 in (Bt,Bw) Sandy loam 6.2 12% 68% 0.25%
38–60 in (C) Sandy loam 6.7 8% 69% 0%

Representative values from the most extensive Kingsley map unit (Kingsley sandy loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes, survey area MN037). 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 Kingsley soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Kingsley soils is slightly acidic: pH 6.1 (most land between 6.1 and 6.2), the range most vegetables, flowers and lawn grasses prefer.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 95% of mapped Kingsley acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is sandy loam (94% of mapped Kingsley acres).

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

For lawns and yards

On 100% 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 Kingsley 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 Kingsley soil is found

Mapped acres

Kingsley is mapped in Minnesota.

Counties with the most mapped Kingsley soil
County Acres Share of county land
Dakota County, MN 23,556 6.5%
Washington County, MN 11,878 4.8%
Ramsey County, MN 8,276 8.4%
Hennepin County, MN 4,046 1.1%
Anoka County, MN 2,398 0.9%
Scott County, MN 933 0.4%
Wright County, MN 506 0.1%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Kingsley acres

Not limited 0%
Somewhat limited 0%
Very limited 100%
Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Kingsley acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.
Show as a table
Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Kingsley acres.
CategoryShare of acres
Not limited0.0%
Somewhat limited0.0%
Very limited100.0%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Kingsley acres

Depth to seasonal high water table
About 3.6 feet (43 in) (median where reported).
Flooding
Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
Slope
Typically 4–20% (median 9%).
Topsoil organic matter
Median 3%.

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 Kingsley acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.
Show as a table
Drainage class across mapped Kingsley acres.
CategoryShare of acres
Excessively drained0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained0.0%
Well drained100.0%
Moderately well drained0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained0.0%
Poorly drained0.0%
Very poorly drained0.0%

Hydrologic soil group

A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) 0%
B: moderate infiltration 0%
C: slow infiltration 100%
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 Kingsley acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.
Show as a table
Hydrologic soil group across mapped Kingsley acres.
CategoryShare of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)0.0%
B: moderate infiltration0.0%
C: slow infiltration100.0%
D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet)0.0%
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 drained0.0%

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 Kingsley (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 51,594 acres.
Method
Shares are by mapped acres of Kingsley components. The profile comes from the single largest Kingsley component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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