Soil series profile

Palinor soil series

Palinor is a well drained soil with a very gravelly loam surface, mapped on 609,426 acres in 5 counties in NV. Hydrologic group D.

#423 by mapped area loamy-skeletal Xeric Haplodurids (Aridisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: D
Typical topsoil pH: 8.2
Mapped area: 609k

Typical Palinor 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).

Show as a table

Typical Palinor horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–3 in (A)	Very gravelly loam	8.2	14%	45%	1.5%
3–10 in (Bw)	Very gravelly loam	8.4	14%	45%	1.5%
10–18 in (Bk)	Extremely gravelly fine sandy loam	8.4	14%	70%	1%
18–30 in (Bkqm)	Cemented material	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
30–46 in (2Ckq)	Extremely gravelly sandy loam	8.4	12%	70%	0.25%
46–60 in (2Ck)	Very gravelly sandy loam	8.4	12%	70%	0.25%

Representative values from the most extensive Palinor map unit (Palinor very gravelly loam, 2 to 15 percent slopes, survey area NV780). 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 Palinor soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Palinor soils is moderately alkaline: pH 8.2 (most land between 8.2 and 8.5). 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 100% of mapped Palinor acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is very gravelly loam (87% of mapped Palinor acres).

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

For lawns and yards

On 100% 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 100% of the acres in mapped Palinor soils very limited, 0% 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 Palinor soil is found

Mapped acres

Palinor is mapped in Nevada.

Counties with the most mapped Palinor soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
White Pine County, NV	378,296	6.6%
Elko County, NV	130,113	1.2%
Nye County, NV	74,836	0.8%
Lincoln County, NV	25,587	0.4%
Eureka County, NV	486	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Palinor acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 100%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Palinor acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	100.0%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Palinor 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 5–10% (median 9%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 1.5%.

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

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Drainage class across mapped Palinor 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 0%

C: slow infiltration 0%

D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) 100%

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

Show as a table

Hydrologic soil group across mapped Palinor acres.
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)	100.0%
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 Palinor (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 609,426 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Palinor components. The profile comes from the single largest Palinor component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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