Soil series profile

Sherm soil series

Sherm is a well drained soil with a clay loam surface, mapped on 1,437,556 acres in 12 counties across 3 states. Hydrologic group C.

#85 by mapped area fine Torrertic Paleustolls (Mollisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 7.2
Mapped area: 1.4M

Typical Sherm 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).

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Typical Sherm horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–6 in (Ap)	Clay loam	7.2	34%	33%	2%
6–18 in (Bt)	Clay	7.4	42%	24%	0.55%
18–60 in (Btk)	Clay loam	8.0	35%	36%	0.55%
60–80 in (Bkk)	Clay loam	8.2	32%	36%	0.3%

Representative values from the most extensive Sherm map unit (Sherm clay loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes, survey area TX357). 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 Sherm soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Sherm soils is neutral: pH 7.2, the range most vegetables, flowers and lawn grasses prefer.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 95% of mapped Sherm acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is clay loam (65% of mapped Sherm acres).

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

For lawns and yards

On 98% 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 95% of the acres in mapped Sherm soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (5% 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.

Generated from the mapped numbers above using fixed rules, not a site visit. See how these notes are written.

Where Sherm soil is found

Mapped acres

Sherm is mapped in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

Counties with the most mapped Sherm soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Ochiltree County, TX	273,385	46.5%
Moore County, TX	250,555	43.4%
Hansford County, TX	198,403	33.7%
Cimarron County, OK	178,408	15.3%
Sherman County, TX	175,498	29.7%
Hutchinson County, TX	97,768	17.2%
Texas County, OK	89,498	6.8%
Hartley County, TX	65,432	7.0%
Union County, NM	51,836	2.0%
Dallam County, TX	47,889	5.0%
Lipscomb County, TX	8,403	1.4%
Harding County, NM	481	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Sherm acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 95%

Not rated 5%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Sherm acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	95.2%
Not rated	4.8%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Sherm 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 0–0% (median 0%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 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 Sherm acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Drainage class across mapped Sherm 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 0%

C: slow infiltration 96%

D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) 1%

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 2%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Sherm acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	0.0%
C: slow infiltration	96.3%
D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet)	1.3%
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	2.3%

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 Sherm (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 1,437,556 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Sherm components. The profile comes from the single largest Sherm component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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