Soil series profile
Rittman soil series
Rittman is a moderately well drained soil with a silt loam surface, mapped on 189,808 acres in 16 counties in OH. Hydrologic group D.
- Drainage class
- Moderately well drained >99% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- D >99% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 5.8 moderately acidic · range 5.8–5.8
- Mapped area
- 190k acres in 16 counties, 1 state
Typical Rittman profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–8 in (Ap) | Silt loam | 5.8 | 15% | 22% | 2.9% |
| 8–11 in (BE) | Silt loam | 5.3 | 22% | 20% | 0.8% |
| 11–23 in (Bt) | Clay loam | 4.8 | 30% | 22% | 0.6% |
| 23–42 in (Btx) | Clay loam | 5.3 | 29% | 25% | 0.5% |
| 42–49 in (BC) | Clay loam | 6.3 | 28% | 24% | 0.5% |
| 49–70 in (C) | Clay loam | 7.6 | 28% | 27% | 0.5% |
What this means
What Rittman soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Rittman soils is moderately acidic: pH 5.8. Many vegetables grow well here, and some gardens benefit from a little lime. Test before adding any.
Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers >99% of mapped Rittman acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silt loam (>99% of mapped Rittman acres).
>99% of mapped Rittman 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 >99% 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 Rittman 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 Rittman soil is found
Mapped acres
Rittman is mapped in Ohio.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Wayne County, OH | 23,459 | 6.6% |
| Geauga County, OH | 22,670 | 8.8% |
| Medina County, OH | 22,483 | 8.4% |
| Richland County, OH | 20,654 | 6.5% |
| Ashland County, OH | 18,263 | 6.7% |
| Summit County, OH | 16,509 | 6.3% |
| Morrow County, OH | 12,842 | 5.0% |
| Mahoning County, OH | 12,686 | 4.8% |
| Trumbull County, OH | 12,631 | 3.3% |
| Portage County, OH | 9,158 | 2.9% |
| Columbiana County, OH | 7,897 | 2.3% |
| Knox County, OH | 5,148 | 1.5% |
| Cuyahoga County, OH | 3,342 | 1.1% |
| Stark County, OH | 1,995 | 0.5% |
| Crawford County, OH | 70 | 0.0% |
| Marion County, OH | 0 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Rittman acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 99.4% |
| Not rated | 0.6% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Rittman acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 1.2 feet (14 in) (median where reported); within 18 inches on >99% of acres.
- Flooding
- Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
- Slope
- Typically 4–9% (median 4%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 2.9%.
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 | 99.4% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Very poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Not rated | 0.6% |
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 | 0.0% |
| D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) | 99.4% |
| 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 | 0.6% |
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 Rittman (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 189,808 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Rittman components. The profile comes from the single largest Rittman component. Full methodology.