Soil series profile
Rotan soil series
Rotan is a well drained soil with a clay loam surface, mapped on 324,111 acres in 18 counties in TX. Hydrologic group C.
- Drainage class
- Well drained >99% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- C 92% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 7.6 slightly alkaline · range 7.6–7.6
- Mapped area
- 324k acres in 18 counties, 1 state
Typical Rotan profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–14 in (Ap) | Clay loam | 7.6 | 32% | 35% | 2% |
| 14–48 in (Bt) | Clay | 7.9 | 41% | 25% | 1.25% |
| 48–80 in (Btk) | Clay loam | 8.2 | 35% | 33% | 0.3% |
What this means
What Rotan soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Rotan soils is slightly alkaline: pH 7.6. 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 92% of mapped Rotan acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is clay loam (90% of mapped Rotan acres).
>99% of mapped Rotan acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.
For lawns and yards
On 92% 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 92% of the acres in mapped Rotan soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (8% 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 Rotan soil is found
Mapped acres
Rotan is mapped in Texas.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Haskell County, TX | 68,858 | 11.9% |
| Wilbarger County, TX | 62,792 | 10.3% |
| Foard County, TX | 48,628 | 8.9% |
| Jones County, TX | 36,192 | 6.1% |
| Taylor County, TX | 31,093 | 5.3% |
| Knox County, TX | 23,359 | 4.3% |
| Stonewall County, TX | 11,567 | 2.0% |
| Hardeman County, TX | 11,323 | 2.6% |
| Baylor County, TX | 9,102 | 1.6% |
| Wichita County, TX | 6,114 | 1.6% |
| Tom Green County, TX | 4,836 | 0.5% |
| Nolan County, TX | 4,285 | 0.7% |
| Throckmorton County, TX | 2,110 | 0.4% |
| Dawson County, TX | 1,560 | 0.3% |
| Runnels County, TX | 1,131 | 0.2% |
| Archer County, TX | 1,028 | 0.2% |
| Borden County, TX | 98 | 0.0% |
| Floyd County, TX | 36 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Rotan acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 91.8% |
| Not rated | 8.2% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Rotan 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 2%.
Drainage class
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Well drained | 99.7% |
| Moderately well drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Very poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Not rated | 0.3% |
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 | 91.8% |
| 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 | 8.2% |
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 Rotan (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 324,111 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Rotan components. The profile comes from the single largest Rotan component. Full methodology.