Soil series profile
Potter soil series
Potter is a well drained soil with a clay loam surface, mapped on 806,948 acres in 63 counties across 4 states. Hydrologic group C.
- Drainage class
- Well drained 100% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- C 79% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 8.1 moderately alkaline · range 8.1–8.2
- Mapped area
- 807k acres in 63 counties, 4 states
Typical Potter profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–6 in (H1) | Clay loam | 8.2 | 28% | 35% | 0.75% |
| 6–36 in (H2) | Extremely cobbly loam | 8.2 | 21% | 42% | 0.3% |
What this means
What Potter soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Potter soils is moderately alkaline: pH 8.1 (most land between 8.1 and 8.2). 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 96% of mapped Potter acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is gravelly loam (81% of mapped Potter acres).
100% of mapped Potter acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.
For lawns and yards
On 86% 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 82% of the acres in mapped Potter soils very limited, 11% somewhat limited and 3% not limited (4% 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.
Where Potter soil is found
Mapped acres
Potter is mapped in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Colorado. The 60 counties with the most Potter acres:
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Texas County, OK | 87,160 | 6.7% |
| Runnels County, TX | 63,603 | 9.5% |
| Roberts County, TX | 60,688 | 10.3% |
| Hansford County, TX | 38,668 | 6.6% |
| Hartley County, TX | 37,274 | 4.0% |
| Howard County, TX | 35,654 | 6.2% |
| Oldham County, TX | 29,359 | 3.1% |
| Lipscomb County, TX | 26,156 | 4.4% |
| Donley County, TX | 25,648 | 4.3% |
| Carson County, TX | 24,045 | 4.1% |
| Armstrong County, TX | 22,248 | 3.8% |
| Hutchinson County, TX | 22,087 | 3.9% |
| Roosevelt County, NM | 20,934 | 1.3% |
| Ochiltree County, TX | 20,880 | 3.6% |
| Randall County, TX | 20,091 | 3.4% |
| Baca County, CO | 19,875 | 1.2% |
| Gray County, TX | 19,651 | 3.3% |
| Quay County, NM | 17,734 | 1.0% |
| Crosby County, TX | 17,634 | 3.1% |
| Eddy County, NM | 16,417 | 0.6% |
| Potter County, TX | 13,893 | 2.4% |
| Lynn County, TX | 10,425 | 1.8% |
| Deaf Smith County, TX | 10,320 | 1.1% |
| Cimarron County, OK | 10,270 | 0.9% |
| Hemphill County, TX | 9,953 | 1.7% |
| Garza County, TX | 9,607 | 1.7% |
| Dickens County, TX | 9,135 | 1.6% |
| Lubbock County, TX | 8,798 | 1.5% |
| Borden County, TX | 8,662 | 1.5% |
| Briscoe County, TX | 8,434 | 1.5% |
| Dawson County, TX | 6,231 | 1.1% |
| Sterling County, TX | 5,311 | 0.9% |
| Gaines County, TX | 5,081 | 0.5% |
| Motley County, TX | 4,850 | 0.8% |
| Curry County, NM | 4,729 | 0.5% |
| Floyd County, TX | 4,500 | 0.7% |
| Harding County, NM | 4,292 | 0.3% |
| Coke County, TX | 4,104 | 0.7% |
| Lamb County, TX | 4,005 | 0.6% |
| Moore County, TX | 3,713 | 0.6% |
| Martin County, TX | 3,689 | 0.6% |
| Bailey County, TX | 3,591 | 0.7% |
| Terry County, TX | 2,946 | 0.5% |
| Lea County, NM | 2,827 | 0.1% |
| Prowers County, CO | 2,269 | 0.2% |
| Ellis County, OK | 1,995 | 0.3% |
| Wheeler County, TX | 1,963 | 0.3% |
| Yoakum County, TX | 1,934 | 0.4% |
| Parmer County, TX | 1,881 | 0.3% |
| Hockley County, TX | 1,727 | 0.3% |
| Roger Mills County, OK | 1,522 | 0.2% |
| Woodward County, OK | 1,311 | 0.2% |
| Andrews County, TX | 1,124 | 0.1% |
| Swisher County, TX | 1,099 | 0.2% |
| Midland County, TX | 997 | 0.2% |
| Hale County, TX | 982 | 0.2% |
| Glasscock County, TX | 616 | 0.1% |
| Cochran County, TX | 599 | 0.1% |
| Castro County, TX | 562 | 0.1% |
| Sherman County, TX | 546 | 0.1% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Potter acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 2.7% |
| Somewhat limited | 10.7% |
| Very limited | 82.4% |
| Not rated | 4.2% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Potter 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 6–20% (median 12%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 1%.
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 | 11.6% |
| C: slow infiltration | 78.5% |
| D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) | 7.2% |
| 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 | 2.6% |
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 Potter (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 806,948 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Potter components. The profile comes from the single largest Potter component. Full methodology.