State soil summary
Soil types in Missouri
The most widespread soil series in Missouri are Goss, Clarksville, Armstrong. Pick a county below, or enter a ZIP code for the county you live in.
- Well or moderately well drained
- 67% of mapped land
- Typical topsoil pH
- 6.0 moderately acidic · most land 5.0–7.0
- Septic fields very limited
- 93% 0% not limited
- Subject to flooding
- 20% of land, any frequency
Missouri counties
7 county reports, by population
| County | Most common soil | Well drained | Topsoil pH | Septic very limited |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis County | Harvester | 53% | 5.7 | 63% |
| Jackson County | Sibley | 52% | 6.5 | 79% |
| St. Charles County | Menfro | 56% | 6.6 | 90% |
| Greene County | Goss | 87% | 6.0 | 89% |
| Clay County | Sharpsburg | 63% | 6.5 | 91% |
| Jefferson County | Sonsac | 90% | 6.0 | 94% |
| Boone County | Keswick | 49% | 6.4 | 97% |
What this means
What Missouri soils mean for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Missouri is moderately acidic: pH 6.0 (most land between 5.0 and 7.0). 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 95% of the land: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silt loam (43% of the land).
67% of the land is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.
For lawns and yards
On 79% 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 28% 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 93% of the land in Missouri very limited, 6% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (1% 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 20% of the land (9% occasional, 6% 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 | 7.9% |
| Well drained | 29.2% |
| Moderately well drained | 28.8% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 18.1% |
| Poorly drained | 13.0% |
| Very poorly drained | 0.6% |
| Not rated | 1.5% |
Septic absorption fields
Show as a table
| Category | Share of land |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 6.1% |
| Very limited | 92.9% |
| Not rated | 1.0% |
Topsoil pH
Show as a table
| Category | Share of land |
|---|---|
| Strongly acidic (below 5.5) | 22.1% |
| Moderately to slightly acidic (5.5–6.4) | 45.6% |
| Near neutral (6.5–7.3) | 28.6% |
| Alkaline (7.4 and up) | 2.1% |
| Not reported | 1.6% |
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
- Missouri: 43,872,735 acres of mapped land in 114 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.