Soil series profile

Linker soil series

Linker is a well drained soil with a fine sandy loam surface, mapped on 1,325,833 acres in 55 counties across 6 states. Hydrologic group C.

#99 by mapped area fine-loamy Typic Hapludults (Ultisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 5.6
Mapped area: 1.3M

Typical Linker 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 Linker horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–4 in (Ap)	Fine sandy loam	5.6	13%	67%	1.75%
4–14 in (E)	Fine sandy loam	5.5	19%	64%	1.25%
14–24 in (Bt1)	Sandy clay loam	5.2	27%	56%	0.5%
24–37 in (Bt2)	Sandy clay loam	5.1	25%	57%	0.5%
37–47 in (R)	Bedrock	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Representative values from the most extensive Linker map unit (Linker fine sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes, survey area AR145). 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 Linker soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Linker soils is moderately acidic: pH 5.6 (most land between 4.6 and 5.6). 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 97% of mapped Linker acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is fine sandy loam (63% of mapped Linker acres).

99% of mapped Linker acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

For lawns and yards

On 96% 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 96% of the acres in mapped Linker soils very limited, <1% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (3% 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.

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 Linker soil is found

Mapped acres

Linker is mapped in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Tennessee.

Counties with the most mapped Linker soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
White County, AR	108,820	16.6%
Sequoyah County, OK	100,398	23.2%
Faulkner County, AR	93,082	22.6%
Conway County, AR	83,930	23.8%
Pope County, AR	72,637	14.0%
Independence County, AR	65,851	13.5%
Cleburne County, AR	57,392	16.1%
Johnson County, AR	53,633	12.7%
Van Buren County, AR	48,171	10.6%
Stone County, AR	44,061	11.4%
Logan County, AR	42,250	9.3%
Franklin County, AR	40,483	10.4%
Haskell County, OK	39,544	10.7%
McIntosh County, OK	38,998	10.0%
Pulaski County, AR	36,340	7.4%
Blount County, AL	33,932	9.4%
Cherokee County, OK	30,268	6.3%
Adair County, OK	30,151	8.2%
Yell County, AR	28,790	4.8%
Washington County, AR	25,542	4.2%
Cullman County, AL	23,752	5.7%
Crawford County, AR	21,779	5.7%
Etowah County, AL	20,666	7.2%
Newton County, AR	16,288	3.1%
Muskogee County, OK	14,878	2.9%
Marshall County, AL	14,178	4.4%
Searcy County, AR	13,389	3.2%
Carroll County, AR	12,028	3.0%
Lawrence County, AL	11,368	2.9%
Sebastian County, AR	10,055	2.9%
Morgan County, AL	9,972	3.1%
Wagoner County, OK	9,536	2.7%
Alcorn County, MS	8,851	3.6%
Madison County, AR	7,483	1.4%
Boone County, AR	7,296	1.9%
Rogers County, OK	6,826	1.6%
Scott County, AR	5,476	1.0%
Franklin County, AL	5,131	1.5%
Benton County, AR	4,696	0.9%
Jackson County, AR	4,230	1.0%
Perry County, AR	3,603	1.0%
DeKalb County, AL	3,400	0.8%
Chattooga County, GA	3,280	1.7%
Cherokee County, AL	2,826	0.9%
Mayes County, OK	2,746	0.7%
Lonoke County, AR	2,388	0.5%
Saline County, AR	1,480	0.3%
Tulsa County, OK	1,392	0.4%
Chilton County, AL	910	0.2%
Monroe County, TN	621	0.2%
Gordon County, GA	504	0.3%
Floyd County, GA	185	0.1%
Calhoun County, AL	184	0.1%
Polk County, GA	105	0.1%
Delaware County, OK	60	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Linker acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited <1%

Very limited 96%

Not rated 3%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Linker acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.7%
Very limited	96.0%
Not rated	3.3%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Linker 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 4–21% (median 5%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 1.8%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 99%

Moderately well drained <1%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

Not rated 1%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Linker acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	98.8%
Moderately well drained	0.1%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%
Not rated	1.1%

Hydrologic soil group

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

B: moderate infiltration 1%

C: slow infiltration 96%

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 3%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Linker acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	1.4%
C: slow infiltration	95.7%
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	2.9%

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 Linker (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 1,325,833 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Linker components. The profile comes from the single largest Linker component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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