Soil series profile

Nickel soil series

Nickel is a well drained soil with a very gravelly fine sandy loam surface, mapped on 966,038 acres in 20 counties across 5 states. Hydrologic group C.

#193 by mapped area loamy-skeletal Typic Calciorthids (Aridisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 8.2
Mapped area: 966k

Typical Nickel 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 Nickel horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–12 in (H1)	Very gravelly fine sandy loam	8.2	10%	68%	0.25%
12–60 in (H2)	Very gravelly fine sandy loam	8.2	8%	70%	0.6%

Representative values from the most extensive Nickel map unit (Nickel very gravelly fine sandy loam, very steep, survey area NM660). 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 Nickel soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Nickel soils is moderately alkaline: pH 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 Nickel acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is very gravelly fine sandy loam (33% of mapped Nickel acres).

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

For lawns and yards

On 64% 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 89% of the acres in mapped Nickel soils very limited, 1% somewhat limited and 10% 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 Nickel soil is found

Mapped acres

Nickel is mapped in New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Texas and California.

Counties with the most mapped Nickel soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Sierra County, NM	273,961	11.3%
Hidalgo County, NM	163,231	7.5%
Doña Ana County, NM	119,021	4.6%
Socorro County, NM	107,368	3.0%
Luna County, NM	100,355	5.3%
Otero County, NM	48,007	1.3%
Grant County, NM	41,195	2.2%
Jeff Davis County, TX	26,349	1.8%
Mohave County, AZ	23,049	0.3%
Clark County, NV	21,892	0.5%
Maricopa County, AZ	12,327	0.2%
Greenlee County, AZ	10,456	2.4%
Lincoln County, NV	8,342	0.1%
Valencia County, NM	5,884	0.8%
San Bernardino County, CA	1,470	0.0%
Graham County, AZ	988	0.0%
Eddy County, NM	878	0.0%
Nye County, NV	706	0.0%
Bernalillo County, NM	502	0.1%
Chaves County, NM	54	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Nickel acres

Not limited 10%

Somewhat limited 1%

Very limited 89%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Nickel acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	10.2%
Somewhat limited	1.0%
Very limited	88.8%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Nickel 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 4–38% (median 9%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 0.2%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained <1%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained >99%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Nickel acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.1%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	99.9%
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) 28%

B: moderate infiltration 8%

C: slow infiltration 64%

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 Nickel acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Nickel acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	28.1%
B: moderate infiltration	8.4%
C: slow infiltration	63.5%
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 Nickel (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 966,038 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Nickel components. The profile comes from the single largest Nickel component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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