Soil series profile

Reagan soil series

Reagan is a well drained soil with a loam surface, mapped on 2,257,309 acres in 22 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group B.

#28 by mapped area fine-silty Ustic Haplocalcids (Aridisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: B
Typical topsoil pH: 8.2
Mapped area: 2.3M

Typical Reagan 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 Reagan horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–8 in (H1)	Loam	8.2	23%	33%	1.25%
8–30 in (H2)	Clay loam	8.2	33%	26%	0.75%
30–80 in (H3)	Clay loam	8.2	35%	25%	0.75%

Representative values from the most extensive Reagan map unit (Reagan loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes, survey area TX618). 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 Reagan soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Reagan soils is moderately alkaline: pH 8.2 (most land between 7.6 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 95% of mapped Reagan acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is loam (60% of mapped Reagan acres).

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

For lawns and yards

Most land is in hydrologic groups B and C, where rain soaks in at a moderate pace.

For a septic system

For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 28% of the acres in mapped Reagan soils very limited, 68% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (4% not rated, such as urban land, pits or water).

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 Reagan soil is found

Mapped acres

Reagan is mapped in Texas and New Mexico.

Counties with the most mapped Reagan soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Upton County, TX	500,738	62.9%
Reagan County, TX	412,213	54.8%
Eddy County, NM	409,763	15.1%
Pecos County, TX	277,137	9.1%
Glasscock County, TX	195,246	33.9%
Terrell County, TX	107,580	6.3%
Midland County, TX	84,815	14.7%
Crockett County, TX	75,951	4.2%
Ector County, TX	44,014	7.6%
Chaves County, NM	21,692	0.6%
Doña Ana County, NM	21,202	0.8%
Jeff Davis County, TX	17,937	1.2%
Val Verde County, TX	16,853	0.8%
Sutton County, TX	14,257	1.5%
Irion County, TX	12,156	1.8%
Howard County, TX	11,408	2.0%
Brewster County, TX	11,216	0.3%
Sterling County, TX	7,301	1.2%
Crane County, TX	6,979	1.4%
Edwards County, TX	3,632	0.3%
Uvalde County, TX	2,708	0.3%
Kinney County, TX	2,509	0.3%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Reagan acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 68%

Very limited 28%

Not rated 4%

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

Show as a table

Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Reagan acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	68.1%
Very limited	27.5%
Not rated	4.4%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Reagan 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 0–2% (median 0%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 1.2%.

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

Show as a table

Drainage class across mapped Reagan 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 68%

C: slow infiltration 28%

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 4%

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

Show as a table

Hydrologic soil group across mapped Reagan acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	68.1%
C: slow infiltration	27.5%
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	4.4%

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 Reagan (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 2,257,309 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Reagan components. The profile comes from the single largest Reagan component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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