Soil series profile
Peru soil series
Peru is a moderately well drained soil with a fine sandy loam surface, mapped on 1,665,860 acres in 43 counties across 5 states. Hydrologic group C/D.
- Drainage class
- Moderately well drained 100% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- C/D 90% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 4.8 very strongly acidic · range 4.8–5.0
- Mapped area
- 1.7M acres in 43 counties, 5 states
Typical Peru profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–1 in (Oe) | Moderately decomposed plant material | 4.9 | Not reported | Not reported | 80% |
| 1–5 in (A) | Fine sandy loam | 4.8 | 6% | 47% | 13% |
| 5–6 in (E) | Fine sandy loam | 4.8 | 3% | 58% | 4% |
| 6–7 in (Bs1) | Fine sandy loam | 5.0 | 6% | 53% | 7% |
| 7–13 in (Bs2) | Fine sandy loam | 5.0 | 3% | 53% | 4% |
| 13–18 in (Bs3) | Fine sandy loam | 5.2 | 1% | 55% | 4% |
| 18–21 in (BC) | Fine sandy loam | 5.2 | 1% | 58% | 1% |
| 21–37 in (Cd1) | Fine sandy loam | 5.2 | 1% | 58% | 0.5% |
| 37–65 in (Cd2) | Fine sandy loam | 5.2 | 1% | 58% | 0.5% |
What this means
What Peru soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Peru soils is very strongly acidic: pH 4.8 (most land between 4.8 and 5.0). 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.
Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 99% of mapped Peru acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is fine sandy loam (93% of mapped Peru acres).
100% of mapped Peru acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.
For lawns and yards
On >99% 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 88% 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 >99% of the acres in mapped Peru 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 Peru soil is found
Mapped acres
Peru is mapped in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and New York.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin County, ME | 176,553 | 16.2% |
| Hancock County, ME | 126,227 | 12.7% |
| Washington County, ME | 102,382 | 6.4% |
| Somerset County, ME | 100,542 | 4.0% |
| Waldo County, ME | 100,301 | 21.5% |
| Piscataquis County, ME | 97,041 | 3.9% |
| Coos County, NH | 76,996 | 8.4% |
| Essex County, VT | 64,561 | 15.2% |
| Berkshire County, MA | 61,135 | 10.1% |
| Grafton County, NH | 53,226 | 7.1% |
| Orleans County, VT | 52,534 | 11.9% |
| Oxford County, ME | 45,704 | 3.6% |
| Franklin County, VT | 45,077 | 11.1% |
| Chittenden County, VT | 41,820 | 12.2% |
| Knox County, ME | 41,018 | 17.4% |
| Caledonia County, VT | 38,668 | 9.3% |
| Lincoln County, ME | 36,308 | 12.7% |
| Washington County, VT | 31,649 | 7.2% |
| Windsor County, VT | 29,064 | 4.7% |
| Worcester County, MA | 28,958 | 3.0% |
| Addison County, VT | 27,826 | 5.7% |
| Penobscot County, ME | 27,147 | 1.3% |
| Rutland County, VT | 25,374 | 4.3% |
| Bennington County, VT | 22,629 | 5.2% |
| Sullivan County, NH | 21,963 | 6.4% |
| Lamoille County, VT | 21,883 | 7.5% |
| Cheshire County, NH | 17,794 | 3.9% |
| Aroostook County, ME | 16,768 | 0.4% |
| Cumberland County, ME | 15,925 | 2.8% |
| Warren County, NY | 15,916 | 2.9% |
| Merrimack County, NH | 15,034 | 2.5% |
| Kennebec County, ME | 14,674 | 2.7% |
| Carroll County, NH | 14,307 | 3.2% |
| Hillsborough County, NH | 14,224 | 2.6% |
| Hampden County, MA | 9,698 | 2.5% |
| Hampshire County, MA | 8,880 | 2.5% |
| York County, ME | 6,926 | 1.1% |
| Belknap County, NH | 6,160 | 2.4% |
| Windham County, VT | 5,209 | 1.0% |
| Franklin County, MA | 3,999 | 0.9% |
| Orange County, VT | 1,402 | 0.3% |
| Androscoggin County, ME | 1,309 | 0.4% |
| Sagadahoc County, ME | 1,049 | 0.7% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Peru acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 99.3% |
| Not rated | 0.7% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Peru acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 1.5 feet (18 in) (median where reported); within 18 inches on 88% of acres.
- Flooding
- Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
- Slope
- Typically 4–25% (median 9%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 13%.
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 | 6.2% |
| D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) | 3.5% |
| 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 | 89.6% |
| Not rated | 0.7% |
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 Peru (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 1,665,860 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Peru components. The profile comes from the single largest Peru component. Full methodology.