Soil series profile

Pepperbox soil series

Pepperbox is a moderately well drained soil with a loamy sand surface, mapped on 42,226 acres in 7 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group A.

#6691 by mapped area loamy Aquic Arenic Paleudults (Ultisols)

Drainage class: Moderately well drained
Hydrologic group: A
Typical topsoil pH: 5.5
Mapped area: 42k

Typical Pepperbox 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 Pepperbox horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–10 in (A)	Loamy sand	5.5	6%	81%	2.5%
10–25 in (E)	Loamy sand	4.7	6%	81%	0.1%
25–37 in (Bt)	Sandy loam	4.7	12%	70%	0.1%
37–65 in (2Btg)	Sandy clay loam	4.6	30%	62%	0.1%
65–80 in (2Cg)	Sandy clay loam	4.8	28%	63%	0.1%

Representative values from the most extensive Pepperbox map unit (Pepperbox-Rosedale complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes, survey area DE005). 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 Pepperbox soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Pepperbox soils is strongly acidic: pH 5.5. Most vegetables and lawn grasses do best around 6.0 to 7.0, so lime is often needed; blueberries, azaleas and rhododendrons like it as it is.

Sandy topsoil covers 94% of mapped Pepperbox acres. It drains fast and warms early in spring, but dries out and loses nutrients quickly: mulch, compost and steady watering help. The most common surface texture is loamy sand (94% of mapped Pepperbox acres).

94% of mapped Pepperbox acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

For lawns and yards

93% of mapped acres is in hydrologic group A, where water soaks in fast. Lawns there dry out quickly; deeper, less frequent watering and organic matter help.

For a septic system

For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 94% of the acres in mapped Pepperbox soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (6% 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 Pepperbox soil is found

Mapped acres

Pepperbox is mapped in Delaware and Maryland.

Counties with the most mapped Pepperbox soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Sussex County, DE	29,521	5.8%
Wicomico County, MD	9,146	3.8%
Anne Arundel County, MD	2,911	1.0%
Kent County, DE	363	0.1%
Caroline County, MD	152	0.1%
Talbot County, MD	78	0.0%
Kent County, MD	56	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Pepperbox acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 94%

Not rated 6%

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

Show as a table

Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Pepperbox acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	93.8%
Not rated	6.2%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Pepperbox acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: About 2.0 feet (24 in) (median where reported).
Flooding: Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
Slope: Typically 1–3% (median 1%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 2.5%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 0%

Moderately well drained 94%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

Not rated 6%

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

Show as a table

Drainage class across mapped Pepperbox acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	0.0%
Moderately well drained	93.8%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%
Not rated	6.2%

Hydrologic soil group

A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) 93%

B: moderate infiltration <1%

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 0%

Not rated 6%

Hydrologic soil group across mapped Pepperbox acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

Show as a table

Hydrologic soil group across mapped Pepperbox acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	92.8%
B: moderate infiltration	0.9%
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	0.0%
Not rated	6.2%

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 Pepperbox (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 42,226 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Pepperbox components. The profile comes from the single largest Pepperbox component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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