Soil series profile
Starks soil series
Starks is a somewhat poorly drained soil with a silt loam surface, mapped on 126,448 acres in 43 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group B/D.
- Drainage class
- Somewhat poorly drained 100% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- B/D 91% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 5.7 moderately acidic · range 5.7–6.5
- Mapped area
- 126k acres in 43 counties, 2 states
Typical Starks profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–10 in (Ap) | Silt loam | 5.7 | 15% | 18% | 2% |
| 10–38 in (Bt1) | Silty clay loam | 5.8 | 31% | 9% | 0.75% |
| 38–56 in (2Bt2) | Loam | 6.5 | 20% | 35% | 0.75% |
| 56–79 in (2C) | Stratified loamy sand to silt loam to sandy clay loam | 7.4 | 9% | 41% | 0.25% |
What this means
What Starks soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Starks soils is moderately acidic: pH 5.7 (most land between 5.7 and 6.5). 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 100% of mapped Starks acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silt loam (100% of mapped Starks acres).
100% of mapped Starks acres is somewhat poorly to very poorly drained, so soil stays soggy for long spells after rain and in wet seasons. Raised beds, plants that tolerate wet feet, and not working the soil while wet all help.
For lawns and yards
On 100% 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 85% 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 100% of the acres in mapped Starks 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 Starks soil is found
Mapped acres
Starks is mapped in Indiana and Illinois.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County, IN | 32,498 | 10.2% |
| Carroll County, IN | 23,028 | 9.9% |
| Tippecanoe County, IN | 20,414 | 6.6% |
| Warren County, IN | 6,913 | 3.1% |
| Clinton County, IN | 6,346 | 2.5% |
| Edgar County, IL | 4,224 | 1.1% |
| Lawrence County, IL | 3,836 | 1.6% |
| Boone County, IN | 3,250 | 1.2% |
| Cumberland County, IL | 2,778 | 1.3% |
| Fountain County, IN | 2,373 | 0.9% |
| Douglas County, IL | 2,321 | 0.9% |
| Shelby County, IL | 2,289 | 0.5% |
| Vermilion County, IL | 2,143 | 0.4% |
| Livingston County, IL | 2,007 | 0.3% |
| Gallatin County, IL | 1,989 | 1.0% |
| LaSalle County, IL | 1,507 | 0.2% |
| Grundy County, IL | 1,205 | 0.5% |
| Henry County, IN | 1,046 | 0.4% |
| Cass County, IN | 911 | 0.3% |
| Wabash County, IL | 797 | 0.6% |
| Decatur County, IN | 721 | 0.3% |
| Will County, IL | 630 | 0.1% |
| Vermillion County, IN | 527 | 0.3% |
| Rush County, IN | 420 | 0.2% |
| Peoria County, IL | 383 | 0.1% |
| Moultrie County, IL | 375 | 0.2% |
| Madison County, IN | 363 | 0.1% |
| Vigo County, IN | 243 | 0.1% |
| Parke County, IN | 211 | 0.1% |
| Bartholomew County, IN | 198 | 0.1% |
| Union County, IN | 87 | 0.1% |
| Champaign County, IL | 73 | 0.0% |
| Piatt County, IL | 58 | 0.0% |
| Bureau County, IL | 46 | 0.0% |
| Coles County, IL | 46 | 0.0% |
| Macon County, IL | 45 | 0.0% |
| Woodford County, IL | 36 | 0.0% |
| Ford County, IL | 29 | 0.0% |
| Hendricks County, IN | 28 | 0.0% |
| Hamilton County, IN | 17 | 0.0% |
| Howard County, IN | 16 | 0.0% |
| Tipton County, IN | 10 | 0.0% |
| Fayette County, IN | 9 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Starks acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 100.0% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Starks acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 6 inches (median where reported); within 18 inches on 85% of acres.
- Flooding
- Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
- Slope
- Typically 1–1% (median 1%).
- 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 | 0.0% |
| Moderately well drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 100.0% |
| 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 | 0.0% |
| C: slow infiltration | 9.2% |
| 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 | 90.8% |
| C/D: D as is, C if drained | 0.0% |
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 Starks (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 126,448 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Starks components. The profile comes from the single largest Starks component. Full methodology.