Soil series profile
Leefield soil series
Leefield is a somewhat poorly drained soil with a loamy sand surface, mapped on 682,680 acres in 54 counties across 3 states. Hydrologic group A.
- Drainage class
- Somewhat poorly drained 100% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- A 83% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 5.3 strongly acidic · range 4.7–5.5
- Mapped area
- 683k acres in 54 counties, 3 states
Typical Leefield profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–26 in (H1) | Loamy sand | 5.3 | 8% | 84% | 1.5% |
| 26–32 in (H2) | Sandy loam | 5.0 | 19% | 66% | 0.25% |
| 32–62 in (H3) | Sandy clay loam | 5.0 | 23% | 60% | 0.25% |
What this means
What Leefield soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Leefield soils is strongly acidic: pH 5.3 (most land between 4.7 and 5.5). 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.
Sandy topsoil covers 100% of mapped Leefield 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 loamy sand (85% of mapped Leefield acres).
100% of mapped Leefield 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
83% 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 100% of the acres in mapped Leefield 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.
Where Leefield soil is found
Mapped acres
Leefield is mapped in Georgia, Florida and South Carolina.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Berrien County, GA | 44,802 | 15.7% |
| Atkinson County, GA | 36,756 | 16.8% |
| Appling County, GA | 36,372 | 11.2% |
| Coffee County, GA | 33,242 | 8.8% |
| Ware County, GA | 32,096 | 6.1% |
| Bulloch County, GA | 29,412 | 7.6% |
| Wayne County, GA | 27,959 | 6.8% |
| Jeff Davis County, GA | 26,538 | 12.5% |
| Pierce County, GA | 25,650 | 11.8% |
| Bacon County, GA | 24,178 | 13.3% |
| Effingham County, GA | 22,661 | 8.4% |
| Lowndes County, GA | 21,224 | 7.3% |
| Long County, GA | 20,216 | 8.0% |
| Lanier County, GA | 18,554 | 15.1% |
| Bay County, FL | 17,245 | 3.5% |
| Colquitt County, GA | 17,112 | 5.6% |
| Cook County, GA | 17,012 | 13.0% |
| Clinch County, GA | 16,472 | 3.4% |
| Thomas County, GA | 16,076 | 5.4% |
| Tattnall County, GA | 16,024 | 5.9% |
| Gulf County, FL | 15,098 | 3.8% |
| Walton County, FL | 14,208 | 2.0% |
| Brooks County, GA | 13,808 | 5.1% |
| Liberty County, GA | 11,495 | 3.5% |
| Calhoun County, FL | 11,260 | 3.1% |
| Worth County, GA | 10,504 | 3.3% |
| Telfair County, GA | 10,476 | 4.2% |
| Jefferson County, FL | 8,620 | 2.2% |
| Brantley County, GA | 7,906 | 3.0% |
| Jackson County, FL | 6,945 | 1.2% |
| Candler County, GA | 6,476 | 4.8% |
| Baker County, FL | 6,424 | 1.7% |
| Gadsden County, FL | 6,300 | 1.9% |
| Irwin County, GA | 5,824 | 2.9% |
| Charlton County, GA | 5,262 | 1.2% |
| Evans County, GA | 4,456 | 4.3% |
| Turner County, GA | 4,291 | 2.7% |
| Liberty County, FL | 4,018 | 0.8% |
| Crisp County, GA | 3,785 | 2.5% |
| Okaloosa County, FL | 3,198 | 0.5% |
| Screven County, GA | 3,120 | 0.9% |
| Washington County, FL | 2,633 | 0.7% |
| Echols County, GA | 2,360 | 1.0% |
| Ben Hill County, GA | 2,304 | 1.6% |
| Leon County, FL | 2,224 | 0.5% |
| Tift County, GA | 2,175 | 1.4% |
| Holmes County, FL | 1,957 | 0.6% |
| Nassau County, FL | 1,761 | 0.4% |
| Dodge County, GA | 1,648 | 0.6% |
| Franklin County, FL | 944 | 0.2% |
| Columbia County, FL | 476 | 0.1% |
| Bleckley County, GA | 404 | 0.3% |
| Allendale County, SC | 391 | 0.1% |
| Treutlen County, GA | 328 | 0.3% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Leefield acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 100.0% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Leefield acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 2.0 feet (24 in) (median where reported).
- Flooding
- Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
- Slope
- Typically 1–2% (median 1%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 1.5%.
Drainage class
Show as a table
| 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 | 100.0% |
| Poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Very poorly drained | 0.0% |
Hydrologic soil group
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) | 83.3% |
| B: moderate infiltration | 0.0% |
| C: slow infiltration | 0.0% |
| 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 | 5.5% |
| C/D: D as is, C if drained | 11.2% |
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 Leefield (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 682,680 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Leefield components. The profile comes from the single largest Leefield component. Full methodology.