Soil series profile

Zeheme soil series

Zeheme is a well drained soil with a extremely stony fine sandy loam surface, mapped on 200,933 acres in 4 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group D.

#1810 by mapped area loamy-skeletal Lithic Haplocalcids (Aridisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: D
Typical topsoil pH: 8.2
Mapped area: 201k

Typical Zeheme 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 Zeheme horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–3 in (H1)	Extremely stony fine sandy loam	8.2	13%	67%	0.25%
3–13 in (H2)	Very gravelly fine sandy loam	8.2	13%	71%	0.25%
13–23 in (H3)	Bedrock	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Representative values from the most extensive Zeheme map unit (Zeheme-Rock outcrop association, survey area NV755). 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 Zeheme soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Zeheme soils is moderately alkaline: pH 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).

Sandy topsoil covers 51% of mapped Zeheme acres. It drains fast and warms early in spring, but dries out and loses nutrients quickly: mulch, compost and steady watering help. The most common surface texture is extremely gravelly fine sandy loam (51% of mapped Zeheme acres).

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

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.

For a septic system

For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 100% of the acres in mapped Zeheme 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.

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

Where Zeheme soil is found

Mapped acres

Zeheme is mapped in Nevada and California.

Counties with the most mapped Zeheme soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Clark County, NV	152,365	3.2%
Lincoln County, NV	46,944	0.8%
Nye County, NV	1,344	0.0%
San Bernardino County, CA	280	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Zeheme acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 100%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Zeheme acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	100.0%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Zeheme 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 30–50% (median 33%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 0.2%.

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 Zeheme acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Drainage class across mapped Zeheme 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 0%

D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) 100%

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%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Zeheme acres.
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)	100.0%
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%

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 Zeheme (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 200,933 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Zeheme components. The profile comes from the single largest Zeheme component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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