Soil series profile
Nunda soil series
Nunda is a moderately well drained soil with a silt loam surface, mapped on 84,679 acres in 19 counties in NY. Hydrologic group C/D.
- Drainage class
- Moderately well drained 100% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- C/D 97% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 6.6 neutral · range 6.5–6.6
- Mapped area
- 85k acres in 19 counties, 1 state
Typical Nunda profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–10 in (H1) | Silt loam | 6.6 | 14% | 30% | 5% |
| 10–20 in (H2) | Silt loam | 5.8 | 12% | 32% | 1.5% |
| 20–28 in (2B/E) | Silt loam | 6.0 | 22% | 26% | 1% |
| 28–44 in (2Bt) | Silty clay loam | 6.8 | 32% | 20% | 0.5% |
| 44–64 in (2C) | Clay loam | 7.4 | 32% | 35% | 0.5% |

What this means
What Nunda soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Nunda soils is neutral: pH 6.6 (most land between 6.5 and 6.6), the range most vegetables, flowers and lawn grasses prefer.
Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 97% of mapped Nunda acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silt loam (72% of mapped Nunda acres).
100% of mapped Nunda acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.
For lawns and yards
On 97% 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 31% 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 97% of the acres in mapped Nunda soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (3% 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.
Only a licensed site evaluation or perc test at the actual lot decides whether a system is allowed and which design.
Where Nunda soil is found
Mapped acres
Nunda is mapped in New York.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Albany County, NY | 47,622 | 14.3% |
| Schenectady County, NY | 11,155 | 8.5% |
| Schoharie County, NY | 5,977 | 1.5% |
| Greene County, NY | 5,731 | 1.4% |
| Montgomery County, NY | 4,269 | 1.6% |
| Wyoming County, NY | 3,325 | 0.9% |
| Genesee County, NY | 2,324 | 0.7% |
| Saratoga County, NY | 1,986 | 0.4% |
| Otsego County, NY | 802 | 0.1% |
| Oneida County, NY | 305 | 0.0% |
| Herkimer County, NY | 216 | 0.0% |
| Livingston County, NY | 208 | 0.0% |
| Tompkins County, NY | 186 | 0.1% |
| Seneca County, NY | 146 | 0.1% |
| Schuyler County, NY | 136 | 0.1% |
| Onondaga County, NY | 135 | 0.0% |
| Cayuga County, NY | 88 | 0.0% |
| Madison County, NY | 63 | 0.0% |
| Cortland County, NY | 6 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Nunda acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 97.0% |
| Not rated | 3.0% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Nunda acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 1.7 feet (20 in) (median where reported); within 18 inches on 31% of acres.
- Flooding
- Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
- Slope
- Typically 5–28% (median 12%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 5%.
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 | 0.0% |
| 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 | 97.0% |
| Not rated | 3.0% |
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 Nunda (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 84,679 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Nunda components. The profile comes from the single largest Nunda component. Full methodology.