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.

#4016 by mapped area fine-loamy Glossaquic Hapludalfs (Alfisols)

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

Typical Nunda soil profile by depth 0 in 20 in 40 in 60 in 0–10 in · H1 · pH 6.6 · 14% clay Silt loam 10–20 in · H2 · pH 5.8 · 12% clay Silt loam 20–28 in · 2B/E · pH 6.0 · 22% clay Silt loam 28–44 in · 2Bt · pH 6.8 · 32% clay Silty clay loam 44–64 in · 2C · pH 7.4 · 32% clay Clay loam
Depth to scale. More strongly shaded layers hold more clay. Horizon names are the soil survey's (A = topsoil, B = subsoil, C = parent material).
Show as a table
Typical Nunda horizons (representative values)
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%

Representative values from the most extensive Nunda map unit (Nunda silt loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes, survey area NY001). Other map units of this series vary within the series range.

Hands holding dark garden soil
Stock photo for illustration, not a sample of this soil series. Credit on the Sources & method page.

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.

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

Where Nunda soil is found

Mapped acres

Nunda is mapped in New York.

Counties with the most mapped Nunda soil
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

Not limited 0%
Somewhat limited 0%
Very limited 97%
Not rated 3%
Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Nunda acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.
Show as a table
Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Nunda acres.
CategoryShare of acres
Not limited0.0%
Somewhat limited0.0%
Very limited97.0%
Not rated3.0%

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

Excessively drained 0%
Somewhat excessively drained 0%
Well drained 0%
Moderately well drained 100%
Somewhat poorly drained 0%
Poorly drained 0%
Very poorly drained 0%
Drainage class across mapped Nunda acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.
Show as a table
Drainage class across mapped Nunda acres.
CategoryShare of acres
Excessively drained0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained0.0%
Well drained0.0%
Moderately well drained100.0%
Somewhat poorly drained0.0%
Poorly drained0.0%
Very poorly drained0.0%

Hydrologic soil group

A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) 0%
B: moderate infiltration 0%
C: slow infiltration 0%
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 97%
Not rated 3%
Hydrologic soil group across mapped Nunda acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.
Show as a table
Hydrologic soil group across mapped Nunda acres.
CategoryShare of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)0.0%
B: moderate infiltration0.0%
C: slow infiltration0.0%
D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet)0.0%
A/D: D as is, A if drained0.0%
B/D: D as is, B if drained0.0%
C/D: D as is, C if drained97.0%
Not rated3.0%

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.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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