Soil series profile
Woodson soil series
Woodson is a somewhat poorly drained soil with a silt loam surface, mapped on 495,616 acres in 47 counties across 3 states. Hydrologic group D.
- Drainage class
- Somewhat poorly drained >99% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- D >99% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 5.9 moderately acidic · range 5.9–5.9
- Mapped area
- 496k acres in 47 counties, 3 states
Typical Woodson profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–8 in (Ap) | Silt loam | 5.9 | 23% | 7% | 2.5% |
| 8–18 in (Bt1) | Silty clay | 6.5 | 45% | 5% | 1.5% |
| 18–31 in (Bt2) | Silty clay | 6.5 | 45% | 5% | 1.5% |
| 31–43 in (BC) | Silty clay | 6.5 | 45% | 5% | 1% |
| 43–79 in (C) | Silty clay | 6.5 | 40% | 10% | 0.5% |
What this means
What Woodson soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Woodson soils is moderately acidic: pH 5.9. 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 Woodson acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silt loam (97% of mapped Woodson acres).
>99% of mapped Woodson 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 100% 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 Woodson 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 Woodson soil is found
Mapped acres
Woodson is mapped in Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Anderson County, KS | 84,449 | 22.7% |
| Franklin County, KS | 45,283 | 12.3% |
| Johnson County, KS | 41,573 | 13.7% |
| Woodson County, KS | 39,834 | 12.5% |
| Coffey County, KS | 36,034 | 8.9% |
| Greenwood County, KS | 32,229 | 4.4% |
| Douglas County, KS | 30,786 | 10.5% |
| Allen County, KS | 28,299 | 8.8% |
| Wilson County, KS | 25,961 | 7.1% |
| Miami County, KS | 21,491 | 5.8% |
| Linn County, KS | 21,044 | 5.5% |
| Osage County, KS | 17,087 | 3.8% |
| Montgomery County, KS | 16,054 | 3.9% |
| Neosho County, KS | 10,100 | 2.8% |
| Elk County, KS | 7,745 | 1.9% |
| Bryan County, OK | 5,655 | 1.0% |
| Lyon County, KS | 5,143 | 0.9% |
| Rogers County, OK | 3,964 | 0.9% |
| Bates County, MO | 3,724 | 0.7% |
| Dade County, MO | 2,752 | 0.9% |
| Labette County, KS | 2,712 | 0.7% |
| Pittsburg County, OK | 1,969 | 0.2% |
| Creek County, OK | 1,935 | 0.3% |
| Bourbon County, KS | 1,909 | 0.5% |
| Crawford County, KS | 1,456 | 0.4% |
| McIntosh County, OK | 1,440 | 0.4% |
| Muskogee County, OK | 1,290 | 0.2% |
| Craig County, OK | 957 | 0.2% |
| Cass County, MO | 692 | 0.2% |
| Shawnee County, KS | 640 | 0.2% |
| Nowata County, OK | 392 | 0.1% |
| St. Clair County, MO | 204 | 0.0% |
| Vernon County, MO | 173 | 0.0% |
| Cherokee County, KS | 167 | 0.0% |
| Ottawa County, OK | 94 | 0.0% |
| Leavenworth County, KS | 93 | 0.0% |
| Tulsa County, OK | 79 | 0.0% |
| Lawrence County, MO | 65 | 0.0% |
| Brown County, KS | 45 | 0.0% |
| Jefferson County, KS | 36 | 0.0% |
| Chautauqua County, KS | 30 | 0.0% |
| Wagoner County, OK | 15 | 0.0% |
| Wabaunsee County, KS | 11 | 0.0% |
| Henry County, MO | 3 | 0.0% |
| Barton County, MO | 1 | 0.0% |
| Jackson County, KS | 0 | 0.0% |
| Nemaha County, KS | 0 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Woodson 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 Woodson acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 1.2 feet (14 in) (median where reported); within 18 inches on 100% of acres.
- Flooding
- Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
- Slope
- Typically 1–2% (median 1%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 2.5%.
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 | 0.4% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 99.5% |
| Poorly drained | 0.1% |
| 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) | 99.4% |
| 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 | 0.6% |
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 Woodson (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 495,616 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Woodson components. The profile comes from the single largest Woodson component. Full methodology.