Soil series profile
Mahalasville soil series
Mahalasville is a poorly drained soil with a silty clay loam surface, mapped on 112,316 acres in 27 counties across 3 states. Hydrologic group B/D.
- Drainage class
- Poorly drained 80% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- B/D 90% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 6.5 slightly acidic · range 6.5–7.0
- Mapped area
- 112k acres in 27 counties, 3 states
Typical Mahalasville profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–10 in (Ap) | Silty clay loam | 6.5 | 31% | 15% | 3.5% |
| 10–15 in (A) | Silty clay loam | 6.5 | 31% | 15% | 3.5% |
| 15–40 in (Btg1) | Silty clay loam | 6.7 | 33% | 12% | 1.5% |
| 40–52 in (2Btg2) | Loam | 6.9 | 18% | 35% | 0.75% |
| 52–79 in (2C) | Stratified sand to sandy loam to loam to silt loam | 7.9 | 10% | 60% | 0.25% |
What this means
What Mahalasville soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Mahalasville soils is slightly acidic: pH 6.5 (most land between 6.5 and 7.0), the range most vegetables, flowers and lawn grasses prefer.
Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 95% of mapped Mahalasville acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silty clay loam (77% of mapped Mahalasville acres).
97% of mapped Mahalasville 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
On 95% 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.
A seasonal high water table comes within 18 inches of the surface on 97% of mapped acres, often in spring. Basements, sump pumps and lawns in low spots feel it first.
For a septic system
For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 95% of the acres in mapped Mahalasville soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (5% 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.
Flooding is mapped on 17% of the acres (0% occasional, 17% frequent).
Only a licensed site evaluation or perc test at the actual lot decides whether a system is allowed and which design.
Where Mahalasville soil is found
Mapped acres
Mahalasville is mapped in Indiana, Wisconsin and Ohio.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County, IN | 27,469 | 8.6% |
| Rock County, WI | 18,955 | 4.1% |
| Tippecanoe County, IN | 16,011 | 5.1% |
| Boone County, IN | 10,281 | 3.8% |
| Carroll County, IN | 9,785 | 4.2% |
| Madison County, IN | 8,018 | 2.8% |
| Clinton County, IN | 6,464 | 2.5% |
| Fountain County, IN | 3,205 | 1.3% |
| Hendricks County, IN | 2,475 | 1.0% |
| Cass County, IN | 1,571 | 0.6% |
| Wayne County, IN | 1,143 | 0.5% |
| Howard County, IN | 1,128 | 0.6% |
| Dodge County, WI | 1,090 | 0.2% |
| Morgan County, IN | 1,019 | 0.4% |
| Putnam County, IN | 921 | 0.3% |
| Wabash County, IN | 863 | 0.3% |
| Miami County, IN | 438 | 0.2% |
| Dane County, WI | 283 | 0.0% |
| Parke County, IN | 262 | 0.1% |
| Tipton County, IN | 260 | 0.2% |
| Clermont County, OH | 190 | 0.1% |
| Preble County, OH | 159 | 0.1% |
| Walworth County, WI | 145 | 0.0% |
| Fond du Lac County, WI | 90 | 0.0% |
| Hamilton County, IN | 72 | 0.0% |
| Marion County, IN | 14 | 0.0% |
| Bartholomew County, IN | 5 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Mahalasville acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 95.1% |
| Not rated | 4.9% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Mahalasville acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 2 inches (median where reported); within 18 inches on 97% of acres.
- Flooding
- Mapped as flooding on 17% of acres (0% occasional, 17% frequent).
- Slope
- Typically 0–1% (median 0%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 3.5%.
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 | 0.0% |
| Poorly drained | 80.2% |
| Very poorly drained | 16.8% |
| Not rated | 3.0% |
Hydrologic soil group
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) | 0.0% |
| B: moderate infiltration | 0.0% |
| C: slow infiltration | 0.0% |
| D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) | 0.4% |
| A/D: D as is, A if drained | 0.0% |
| B/D: D as is, B if drained | 90.1% |
| C/D: D as is, C if drained | 4.6% |
| Not rated | 4.9% |
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 Mahalasville (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 112,316 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Mahalasville components. The profile comes from the single largest Mahalasville component. Full methodology.