Soil series profile
Switzerland soil series
Switzerland is a well drained soil with a silt loam surface, mapped on 53,767 acres in 10 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group C.
- Drainage class
- Well drained 77% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- C 87% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 5.9 moderately acidic · range 5.9–6.1
- Mapped area
- 54k acres in 10 counties, 2 states
Typical Switzerland profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–7 in (Ap) | Silt loam | 5.9 | 19% | 3% | 1.9% |
| 7–28 in (Bt) | Silty clay loam | 4.8 | 31% | 8% | 0.75% |
| 28–44 in (2Bt) | Clay | 5.1 | 65% | 5% | 0.4% |
| 44–60 in (2BC) | Clay | 6.6 | 61% | 5% | 0.24% |
| 60–80 in (2Cr) | Weathered bedrock | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
What this means
What Switzerland soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Switzerland soils is moderately acidic: pH 5.9 (most land between 5.9 and 6.1). 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 97% of mapped Switzerland acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silt loam (97% of mapped Switzerland acres).
97% of mapped Switzerland acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.
For lawns and yards
On 95% 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 97% of the acres in mapped Switzerland soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (3% 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 Switzerland soil is found
Mapped acres
Switzerland is mapped in Indiana and Ohio.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Dearborn County, IN | 17,128 | 8.8% |
| Switzerland County, IN | 16,047 | 11.4% |
| Hamilton County, OH | 7,763 | 3.0% |
| Ohio County, IN | 4,551 | 8.3% |
| Ripley County, IN | 4,205 | 1.5% |
| Jefferson County, IN | 2,866 | 1.2% |
| Franklin County, IN | 1,202 | 0.5% |
| Clark County, IN | 3 | 0.0% |
| Warren County, OH | 1 | 0.0% |
| Butler County, OH | 1 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Switzerland acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 96.9% |
| Not rated | 3.1% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Switzerland acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 2.5 feet (30 in) (median where reported).
- Flooding
- Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
- Slope
- Typically 9–18% (median 9%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 1.9%.
Drainage class
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Well drained | 77.3% |
| Moderately well drained | 19.6% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Very poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Not rated | 3.1% |
Hydrologic soil group
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) | 0.0% |
| B: moderate infiltration | 1.6% |
| C: slow infiltration | 86.7% |
| D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) | 8.7% |
| 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 | 3.1% |
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 Switzerland (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 53,767 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Switzerland components. The profile comes from the single largest Switzerland component. Full methodology.