State soil summary
Soil types in Mississippi
The most widespread soil series in Mississippi are Smithdale, Providence, Memphis. 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
- 5.0 very strongly acidic · most land 4.8–6.5
- Septic fields very limited
- 92% <1% not limited
- Subject to flooding
- 36% of land, any frequency
Mississippi counties
5 county reports, by population
| County | Most common soil | Well drained | Topsoil pH | Septic very limited |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison County | Poarch | 64% | 5.0 | 88% |
| Hinds County | Memphis | 89% | 5.3 | 88% |
| DeSoto County | Loring | 61% | 5.3 | 91% |
| Rankin County | Providence | 64% | 5.0 | 98% |
| Jackson County | Benndale | 47% | 5.0 | 85% |
What this means
What Mississippi soils mean for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Mississippi is very strongly acidic: pH 5.0 (most land between 4.8 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 85% of the land: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silt loam (36% of the land).
62% of the land is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.
For lawns and yards
On 67% 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 32% 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 92% of the land in Mississippi very limited, 7% somewhat limited and <1% 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.
Flooding is mapped on 36% of the land (15% occasional, 12% 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 | 0.8% |
| Somewhat excessively drained | 0.7% |
| Well drained | 34.8% |
| Moderately well drained | 25.8% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 17.0% |
| Poorly drained | 15.5% |
| Very poorly drained | 2.8% |
| Not rated | 2.6% |
Septic absorption fields
Show as a table
| Category | Share of land |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.4% |
| Somewhat limited | 7.3% |
| Very limited | 91.6% |
| Not rated | 0.7% |
Topsoil pH
Show as a table
| Category | Share of land |
|---|---|
| Strongly acidic (below 5.5) | 77.9% |
| Moderately to slightly acidic (5.5–6.4) | 10.3% |
| Near neutral (6.5–7.3) | 9.5% |
| Alkaline (7.4 and up) | 1.0% |
| Not reported | 1.3% |
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
- Mississippi: 28,540,622 acres of mapped land in 82 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.