Soil series profile
Pantex soil series
Pantex is a well drained soil with a silty clay loam surface, mapped on 370,578 acres in 20 counties in TX. Hydrologic group C.
- Drainage class
- Well drained 100% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- C 100% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 7.5 slightly alkaline · range 7.5–7.5
- Mapped area
- 371k acres in 20 counties, 1 state
Typical Pantex profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–7 in (Ap) | Silty clay loam | 7.5 | 34% | 12% | 2.4% |
| 7–34 in (Bt1) | Silty clay | 8.1 | 42% | 10% | 1.1% |
| 34–71 in (Bt2) | Silty clay loam | 8.2 | 39% | 13% | 0.5% |
| 71–80 in (Btkk) | Silty clay loam | 8.0 | 39% | 14% | 0.3% |
What this means
What Pantex soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Pantex soils is slightly alkaline: pH 7.5. 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 Pantex acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silty clay loam (100% of mapped Pantex acres).
100% of mapped Pantex 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 Pantex 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.
Where Pantex soil is found
Mapped acres
Pantex is mapped in Texas.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Carson County, TX | 116,048 | 19.6% |
| Oldham County, TX | 52,710 | 5.5% |
| Randall County, TX | 49,289 | 8.4% |
| Deaf Smith County, TX | 47,909 | 5.0% |
| Floyd County, TX | 16,525 | 2.6% |
| Swisher County, TX | 15,178 | 2.7% |
| Potter County, TX | 15,075 | 2.6% |
| Hale County, TX | 14,111 | 2.2% |
| Castro County, TX | 9,491 | 1.6% |
| Armstrong County, TX | 8,550 | 1.5% |
| Crosby County, TX | 6,547 | 1.1% |
| Briscoe County, TX | 6,287 | 1.1% |
| Gray County, TX | 5,923 | 1.0% |
| Parmer County, TX | 2,194 | 0.4% |
| Lubbock County, TX | 2,097 | 0.4% |
| Dickens County, TX | 1,074 | 0.2% |
| Roberts County, TX | 885 | 0.1% |
| Donley County, TX | 482 | 0.1% |
| Motley County, TX | 179 | 0.0% |
| Hemphill County, TX | 24 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Pantex acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 100.0% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Pantex 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 0–0% (median 0%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 2.4%.
Drainage class
Show as a table
| 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
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 | 100.0% |
| 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 | 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 Pantex (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 370,578 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Pantex components. The profile comes from the single largest Pantex component. Full methodology.