Soil series profile

Mohave soil series

Mohave is a well drained soil with a sandy clay loam surface, mapped on 615,066 acres in 7 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group C.

#414 by mapped area fine-loamy Typic Haplargids (Aridisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 7.5
Mapped area: 615k

Typical Mohave 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 Mohave horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–8 in (H1)	Sandy clay loam	7.5	29%	54%	0.75%
8–60 in (H2)	Clay loam	8.2	28%	35%	0.38%

Representative values from the most extensive Mohave map unit (Mohave sandy clay loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes, survey area NM029). 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 Mohave soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Mohave soils is slightly alkaline: pH 7.5 (most land between 7.5 and 7.6). 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 97% of mapped Mohave acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is sandy clay loam (66% of mapped Mohave acres).

100% of mapped Mohave acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

For lawns and yards

On 90% 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 93% of the acres in mapped Mohave soils very limited, 7% 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.

Generated from the mapped numbers above using fixed rules, not a site visit. See how these notes are written.

Where Mohave soil is found

Mapped acres

Mohave is mapped in New Mexico and Arizona.

Counties with the most mapped Mohave soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Luna County, NM	216,064	11.4%
Hidalgo County, NM	158,969	7.3%
Grant County, NM	78,047	4.2%
Pima County, AZ	58,266	1.1%
Maricopa County, AZ	54,708	0.9%
Yavapai County, AZ	48,628	1.2%
Cochise County, AZ	385	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Mohave acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 7%

Very limited 93%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Mohave acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	6.8%
Very limited	93.2%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Mohave acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: None reported within about 6.5 feet (median where reported).
Flooding: Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
Slope: Typically 2–3% (median 2%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 0.8%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 100%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Mohave acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	100.0%
Moderately well drained	0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%

Hydrologic soil group

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

B: moderate infiltration 10%

C: slow infiltration 90%

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%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Mohave acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	9.9%
C: slow infiltration	90.1%
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%

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 Mohave (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 615,066 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Mohave components. The profile comes from the single largest Mohave component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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