Soil series profile
Vernon soil series
Vernon is a well drained soil with a clay loam surface, mapped on 1,375,392 acres in 73 counties across 4 states. Hydrologic group D.
- Drainage class
- Well drained 100% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- D 93% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 8.0 moderately alkaline · range 8.0–8.2
- Mapped area
- 1.4M acres in 73 counties, 4 states
Typical Vernon profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–5 in (A) | Clay loam | 7.5 | 31% | 35% | 2% |
| 5–22 in (Bw) | Gravelly clay | 8.2 | 48% | 23% | 1.2% |
| 22–60 in (Cd) | Bedrock | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
What this means
What Vernon soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Vernon soils is moderately alkaline: pH 8.0 (most land between 8.0 and 8.2). 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).
Clayey topsoil covers 47% of mapped Vernon acres. Clay holds water and nutrients but drains slowly and compacts if worked wet: add compost, avoid tilling soggy soil and consider raised beds. The most common surface texture is clay (45% of mapped Vernon acres).
100% of mapped Vernon acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.
For lawns and yards
On 93% 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 93% of the acres in mapped Vernon soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and <1% not limited (7% 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 Vernon soil is found
Mapped acres
Vernon is mapped in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico. The 60 counties with the most Vernon acres:
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Baylor County, TX | 111,826 | 19.9% |
| Barber County, KS | 98,204 | 13.6% |
| Garza County, TX | 85,812 | 15.0% |
| Borden County, TX | 75,735 | 13.2% |
| Comanche County, OK | 58,104 | 8.5% |
| Cotton County, OK | 57,671 | 14.1% |
| Kiowa County, OK | 51,159 | 7.9% |
| Archer County, TX | 47,754 | 8.2% |
| Woods County, OK | 44,154 | 5.4% |
| Tillman County, OK | 43,928 | 7.7% |
| Woodward County, OK | 43,517 | 5.3% |
| Wilbarger County, TX | 43,299 | 7.1% |
| Foard County, TX | 40,997 | 7.5% |
| Mitchell County, TX | 38,226 | 6.6% |
| Knox County, TX | 37,701 | 6.9% |
| Haskell County, TX | 33,811 | 5.8% |
| Cottle County, TX | 28,434 | 4.9% |
| Taylor County, TX | 24,455 | 4.2% |
| Scurry County, TX | 23,946 | 4.2% |
| Howard County, TX | 23,128 | 4.0% |
| Jones County, TX | 22,704 | 3.8% |
| Wichita County, TX | 21,186 | 5.5% |
| Hardeman County, TX | 20,697 | 4.7% |
| Harmon County, OK | 19,667 | 5.8% |
| King County, TX | 18,634 | 3.2% |
| Major County, OK | 18,590 | 3.1% |
| Stonewall County, TX | 17,990 | 3.1% |
| Montague County, TX | 17,561 | 3.0% |
| Greer County, OK | 17,427 | 4.3% |
| Clay County, TX | 17,205 | 2.5% |
| Potter County, TX | 14,926 | 2.5% |
| Harper County, OK | 14,822 | 2.2% |
| Jackson County, OK | 14,529 | 2.8% |
| Young County, TX | 14,245 | 2.4% |
| Dickens County, TX | 13,567 | 2.3% |
| Kent County, TX | 13,310 | 2.3% |
| Childress County, TX | 9,926 | 2.2% |
| Blaine County, OK | 8,762 | 1.5% |
| Runnels County, TX | 6,892 | 1.0% |
| Coke County, TX | 6,811 | 1.2% |
| Fisher County, TX | 6,304 | 1.1% |
| Throckmorton County, TX | 6,275 | 1.1% |
| Harding County, NM | 5,465 | 0.4% |
| Sedgwick County, KS | 5,229 | 0.8% |
| Sumner County, KS | 3,934 | 0.5% |
| Wise County, TX | 3,363 | 0.6% |
| Dewey County, OK | 3,157 | 0.5% |
| Beckham County, OK | 2,858 | 0.5% |
| Crosby County, TX | 2,808 | 0.5% |
| Caddo County, OK | 2,038 | 0.3% |
| Dawson County, TX | 1,997 | 0.3% |
| Nolan County, TX | 1,961 | 0.3% |
| Motley County, TX | 1,333 | 0.2% |
| Washita County, OK | 1,139 | 0.2% |
| Moore County, TX | 1,087 | 0.2% |
| Harper County, KS | 910 | 0.2% |
| Jack County, TX | 820 | 0.1% |
| Donley County, TX | 600 | 0.1% |
| Martin County, TX | 528 | 0.1% |
| Reno County, KS | 476 | 0.1% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Vernon acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.1% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 92.5% |
| Not rated | 7.4% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Vernon 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 2–9% (median 4%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 1.2%.
Drainage class
Show as a table
| 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
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) | 92.6% |
| 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 | 7.4% |
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 Vernon (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 1,375,392 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Vernon components. The profile comes from the single largest Vernon component. Full methodology.