Soil series profile

Mocho soil series

Mocho is a well drained soil with a loam surface, mapped on 111,616 acres in 12 counties in CA. Hydrologic group B.

#3231 by mapped area fine-loamy Fluventic Haploxerolls (Mollisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: B
Typical topsoil pH: 8.0
Mapped area: 112k

Typical Mocho 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 Mocho horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–10 in (Ap)	Loam	8.0	23%	40%	3%
10–16 in (A)	Loam	8.0	23%	40%	1.5%
16–34 in (Bk1)	Loam	8.0	25%	38%	0.75%
34–60 in (Bk2)	Loam	8.0	25%	38%	0.75%

Representative values from the most extensive Mocho map unit (Mocho loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, warm MAAT, MLRA 19, survey area CA674). 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 Mocho soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Mocho soils is moderately alkaline: pH 8.0 (most land between 7.9 and 8.2). Acid-loving plants such as blueberries and azaleas struggle without amended beds, and some trees and shrubs show iron chlorosis (yellow leaves with green veins).

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 90% of mapped Mocho acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is loam (42% of mapped Mocho acres).

94% of mapped Mocho acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

For lawns and yards

Most land is in hydrologic groups B and C, where rain soaks in at a moderate pace.

For a septic system

For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 36% of the acres in mapped Mocho soils very limited, 53% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (11% not rated, such as urban land, pits or water).

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 Mocho soil is found

Mapped acres

Mocho is mapped in California.

Counties with the most mapped Mocho soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Monterey County, CA	33,897	1.6%
Ventura County, CA	25,566	4.0%
Orange County, CA	15,740	3.1%
Santa Barbara County, CA	12,092	1.1%
San Luis Obispo County, CA	9,944	0.6%
Los Angeles County, CA	7,650	0.3%
San Benito County, CA	4,882	0.5%
Kern County, CA	1,152	0.0%
Santa Cruz County, CA	379	0.1%
San Bernardino County, CA	231	0.0%
Santa Clara County, CA	44	0.0%
San Diego County, CA	25	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Mocho acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 53%

Very limited 36%

Not rated 11%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Mocho acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	53.3%
Very limited	36.2%
Not rated	10.5%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Mocho acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: None reported within about 6.5 feet (median where reported).
Flooding: Mapped as flooding on 5% of acres (3% occasional, 0% frequent).
Slope: Typically 1–6% (median 1%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 3%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 94%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

Not rated 6%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Mocho acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	94.0%
Moderately well drained	0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%
Not rated	6.0%

Hydrologic soil group

A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) 2%

B: moderate infiltration 56%

C: slow infiltration 32%

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 11%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Mocho acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	2.0%
B: moderate infiltration	55.7%
C: slow infiltration	31.8%
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	10.5%

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 Mocho (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 111,616 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Mocho components. The profile comes from the single largest Mocho component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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