Soil series profile

Manzano soil series

Manzano is a well drained soil with a clay loam surface, mapped on 553,058 acres in 22 counties across 4 states. Hydrologic group C.

#479 by mapped area fine-loamy Cumulic Haplustolls (Mollisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 7.2
Mapped area: 553k

Typical Manzano 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 Manzano horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–3 in (A)	Clay loam	7.0	32%	35%	2.5%
3–60 in (CB)	Loam	7.5	23%	40%	0.5%

Representative values from the most extensive Manzano map unit (Manzano clay loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, survey area NM648). 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 Manzano soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Manzano soils is neutral: pH 7.2 (most land between 7.0 and 7.2), the range most vegetables, flowers and lawn grasses prefer.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 85% of mapped Manzano acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is loam (61% of mapped Manzano acres).

98% of mapped Manzano acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

For lawns and yards

On 70% 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 98% of the acres in mapped Manzano soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (2% 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 90% of the acres (36% occasional, 10% 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 Manzano soil is found

Mapped acres

Manzano is mapped in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado and Arizona.

Counties with the most mapped Manzano soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Catron County, NM	117,943	5.3%
Torrance County, NM	76,618	3.6%
Union County, NM	75,226	2.9%
Grant County, NM	68,530	3.7%
Colfax County, NM	40,784	1.6%
Taos County, NM	26,373	1.9%
San Miguel County, NM	25,509	0.9%
Harding County, NM	22,699	1.6%
Socorro County, NM	21,012	0.6%
Guadalupe County, NM	20,966	1.1%
Mora County, NM	16,264	1.2%
Lincoln County, NM	11,063	0.4%
Bernalillo County, NM	10,234	1.4%
Cimarron County, OK	5,237	0.4%
Huerfano County, CO	4,746	0.5%
Sierra County, NM	2,797	0.1%
Santa Fe County, NM	2,611	0.3%
Rio Arriba County, NM	2,521	0.1%
Navajo County, AZ	1,240	0.0%
Jefferson County, CO	95	0.0%
Sandoval County, NM	46	0.0%
Valencia County, NM	5	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Manzano acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 98%

Not rated 2%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Manzano acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	98.4%
Not rated	1.6%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Manzano acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: About 4.8 feet (57 in) (median where reported); within 18 inches on <1% of acres.
Flooding: Mapped as flooding on 90% of acres (36% occasional, 10% frequent).
Slope: Typically 0–3% (median 2%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 2.5%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 98%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

Not rated 2%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Manzano acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	98.4%
Moderately well drained	0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%
Not rated	1.6%

Hydrologic soil group

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

B: moderate infiltration 29%

C: slow infiltration 70%

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 2%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Manzano acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	28.8%
C: slow infiltration	69.7%
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	1.6%

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 Manzano (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 553,058 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Manzano components. The profile comes from the single largest Manzano component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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