State soil summary
Soil types in Arkansas
The most widespread soil series in Arkansas are Enders, Mountainburg, Sharkey. Pick a county below, or enter a ZIP code for the county you live in.
- Well or moderately well drained
- 62% of mapped land
- Typical topsoil pH
- 5.3 strongly acidic · most land 5.0–6.5
- Septic fields very limited
- 86% 0% not limited
- Subject to flooding
- 17% of land, any frequency
Arkansas counties
6 county reports, by population
| County | Most common soil | Well drained | Topsoil pH | Septic very limited |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulaski County | Carnasaw | 62% | 5.3 | 71% |
| Benton County | Clarksville | 95% | 5.3 | 94% |
| Washington County | Enders | 90% | 5.0 | 84% |
| Faulkner County | Mountainburg | 78% | 5.3 | 95% |
| Saline County | Carnasaw | 81% | 5.3 | 85% |
| Sebastian County | Leadvale | 81% | 5.3 | 94% |
What this means
What Arkansas soils mean for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Arkansas is strongly acidic: pH 5.3 (most land between 5.0 and 6.5). Most vegetables and lawn grasses do best around 6.0 to 7.0, so lime is often needed; blueberries, azaleas and rhododendrons like it as it is.
Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 80% of the land: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silt loam (30% of the land).
62% of the land is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.
For lawns and yards
On 76% of the land, 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 30% of the land, often in spring. Basements, sump pumps and lawns in low spots feel it first.
For septic systems
For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 86% of the land in Arkansas very limited, 6% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (8% 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.
Flooding is mapped on 17% of the land (4% occasional, 9% frequent).
Only a licensed site evaluation or perc test at the actual lot decides whether a system is allowed and which design.
Statewide mix
Share of all mapped land
Drainage
Show as a table
| Category | Share of land |
|---|---|
| Excessively drained | 1.0% |
| Somewhat excessively drained | 2.8% |
| Well drained | 41.3% |
| Moderately well drained | 16.8% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 11.0% |
| Poorly drained | 21.8% |
| Very poorly drained | 0.3% |
| Not rated | 5.0% |
Septic absorption fields
Show as a table
| Category | Share of land |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 6.0% |
| Very limited | 86.3% |
| Not rated | 7.8% |
Topsoil pH
Show as a table
| Category | Share of land |
|---|---|
| Strongly acidic (below 5.5) | 53.7% |
| Moderately to slightly acidic (5.5–6.4) | 28.8% |
| Near neutral (6.5–7.3) | 9.2% |
| Alkaline (7.4 and up) | 0.6% |
| Not reported | 7.8% |
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
- Arkansas: 33,130,640 acres of mapped land in 75 counties, pooled (not an average of county figures).
- Method
- Shares are by mapped land area: each map unit’s acres in the county times each soil component’s percentage. Open water is excluded. Topsoil values use the first mineral horizon of each component. Full methodology.