Soil series profile
Martin soil series
Martin is a moderately well drained soil with a silty clay loam surface, mapped on 692,079 acres in 44 counties across 3 states. Hydrologic group C/D.
- Drainage class
- Moderately well drained 100% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- C/D 52% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 6.1 slightly acidic · range 6.1–6.1
- Mapped area
- 692k acres in 44 counties, 3 states
Typical Martin profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–6 in (Ap) | Silty clay loam | 6.1 | 33% | 6% | 3.7% |
| 6–14 in (BA) | Silty clay loam | 6.1 | 36% | 5% | 3.2% |
| 14–19 in (Bt1) | Silty clay | 6.7 | 43% | 5% | 2.1% |
| 19–56 in (Bt2) | Silty clay | 6.7 | 41% | 5% | 0.8% |
| 56–65 in (BC) | Silty clay loam | 6.7 | 38% | 6% | 0.5% |
| 65–79 in (C) | Silty clay loam | 6.7 | 36% | 8% | 0.4% |
What this means
What Martin soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Martin soils is slightly acidic: pH 6.1, the range most vegetables, flowers and lawn grasses prefer.
Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 92% of mapped Martin acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silty clay loam (92% of mapped Martin acres).
100% of mapped Martin 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.
A seasonal high water table comes within 18 inches of the surface on 54% 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 100% of the acres in mapped Martin 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 Martin soil is found
Mapped acres
Martin is mapped in Kansas, Nebraska and Utah.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Shawnee County, KS | 79,358 | 22.6% |
| Wabaunsee County, KS | 78,057 | 15.3% |
| Cowley County, KS | 73,390 | 10.2% |
| Jackson County, KS | 67,808 | 16.1% |
| Douglas County, KS | 61,555 | 21.0% |
| Greenwood County, KS | 53,698 | 7.3% |
| Chautauqua County, KS | 44,242 | 10.8% |
| Lyon County, KS | 43,517 | 8.0% |
| Jefferson County, KS | 37,098 | 10.9% |
| Elk County, KS | 25,439 | 6.1% |
| Johnson County, KS | 25,001 | 8.2% |
| Leavenworth County, KS | 23,304 | 7.9% |
| Chase County, KS | 17,530 | 3.5% |
| Pottawatomie County, KS | 10,057 | 1.9% |
| Brown County, KS | 7,762 | 2.1% |
| Atchison County, KS | 5,436 | 2.0% |
| Marshall County, KS | 5,380 | 0.9% |
| Riley County, KS | 5,373 | 1.4% |
| Butler County, KS | 5,122 | 0.6% |
| Nemaha County, KS | 4,126 | 0.9% |
| Morris County, KS | 3,628 | 0.8% |
| Geary County, KS | 2,874 | 1.2% |
| Osage County, KS | 2,867 | 0.6% |
| Marion County, KS | 2,479 | 0.4% |
| Dickinson County, KS | 1,719 | 0.3% |
| Doniphan County, KS | 1,411 | 0.6% |
| Wyandotte County, KS | 978 | 1.0% |
| Washington County, KS | 880 | 0.2% |
| Pawnee County, NE | 483 | 0.2% |
| Lancaster County, NE | 393 | 0.1% |
| Saline County, KS | 253 | 0.1% |
| Woodson County, KS | 229 | 0.1% |
| Miami County, KS | 126 | 0.0% |
| Anderson County, KS | 114 | 0.0% |
| Utah County, UT | 86 | 0.0% |
| Clay County, KS | 67 | 0.0% |
| Box Elder County, UT | 52 | 0.0% |
| Wilson County, KS | 51 | 0.0% |
| Nemaha County, NE | 38 | 0.0% |
| Gage County, NE | 36 | 0.0% |
| Seward County, NE | 32 | 0.0% |
| McPherson County, KS | 25 | 0.0% |
| Harvey County, KS | 4 | 0.0% |
| Otoe County, NE | 0 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Martin 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 Martin acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 1.2 feet (14 in) (median where reported); within 18 inches on 54% of acres.
- Flooding
- Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
- Slope
- Typically 3–7% (median 5%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 3.7%.
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 | 100.0% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 0.0% |
| 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) | 0.0% |
| B: moderate infiltration | 0.0% |
| C: slow infiltration | 0.4% |
| D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) | 48.1% |
| 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 | 51.5% |
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 Martin (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 692,079 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Martin components. The profile comes from the single largest Martin component. Full methodology.