Tippah County, Mississippi

Survey Area MS139• Mississippi

The dominant drainage class is Well drained and the dominant hydrologic group is B (moderate infiltration). The most common soil order is Alfisols — moderately leached forest soils with a clay-enriched subsoil. This report summarizes the major soil map units across the survey area to help you understand what to expect when buying, building, or gardening in Tippah County, Mississippi. Search your address to find the exact soil composition, drainage, and series details at your specific location.

Soil Map Unit	Acres	Drainage	Hydro Group	Dwellings	Septic
Gullied land, sandy	51K			Very limited	Very limited
Smithdale fine sandy loam, 12 to 40 percent slopes	31K	Well drained	B	Very limited	Very limited
Smithdale-Sweatman-Providence association, 12 to 35 percent slopes	27K	Well drained	B	Very limited	Very limited
Falaya silt loam (gillsburg)	21K	Somewhat poorly drained	B/D	Very limited	Very limited
Gullied land, clayey	14K			Very limited	Very limited
Ruston-Cuthbert-Shubuta-Association, steep (smithdale, sweatman sweatman)	13K	Well drained	B	Very limited	Very limited
Dulac-Wilcox complex, 8 to 12 percent slopes, severely eroded	10K	Moderately well drained	D	Very limited	Very limited
Falaya silt loam, local alluvium (gillsburg)	9K	Somewhat poorly drained	B/D	Very limited	Very limited
Providence silt loam, 5 to 8 percent slopes, severely eroded	9K	Moderately well drained	C/D	Very limited	Very limited
Wilcox-Cuthbert association, steep (wilcox, sweatman)	7K	Somewhat poorly drained	D	Very limited	Very limited
Dulac silt loam, 5 to 8 percent slopes, severely eroded	7K	Moderately well drained	D	Very limited	Very limited
Mantachie soils (kirkville)	6K	Moderately well drained	C	Very limited	Very limited
Wilcox-Cuthbert association, moderately steep, severely eroded (wilcox, sweatman)	6K	Somewhat poorly drained	D	Very limited	Very limited
Waverly and Bibb soils (rosebloom and bibb)	6K	Poorly drained	C/D	Very limited	Very limited
Ora loam, 5 to 8 percent slopes, severely eroded	5K	Moderately well drained	C/D	Very limited	Very limited
Falkner silt loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes, eroded	5K	Somewhat poorly drained	C	Very limited	Very limited
Mantachie soils, local alluvium (kirkville)	4K	Moderately well drained	C	Very limited	Very limited
Bude silt loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes, eroded	4K	Somewhat poorly drained	D	Very limited	Very limited
Ruston soils, 12 to 17 percent slopes, eroded (smithdale)	3K	Well drained	B	Very limited	Very limited
Dulac silt loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes, severely eroded	3K	Moderately well drained	D	Very limited	Very limited

Soil Orders in This Area

The USDA classifies every soil into one of 12 soil orders. Here are the dominant orders found in this survey area.

Alfisols

Moderately weathered forest soils with clay-enriched subsoil. Productive for agriculture, generally good for building and septic.

Ultisols

Strongly weathered clay soils of the Southeast. Acidic and naturally low in nutrients. Clay subsoil can slow drainage.

Entisols

Young soils with little development — found on floodplains, dunes, and steep slopes. Properties vary widely by setting.

Vertisols

High-clay soils that shrink and swell dramatically. Fertile but challenging for foundations and septic systems.

Inceptisols

Young but developing soils found in mountains and river terraces. Variable properties — check drainage and bedrock depth.

What This Means

Building & Foundations

About 100% of soils are rated "very limited" for dwellings with basements. Specific challenges include steep slopes, poor drainage in some areas, flood-prone areas. A geotechnical assessment is recommended before building.

Septic Systems

About 100% of soils are rated "very limited" for septic absorption fields. Despite good drainage overall, limitations may stem from shallow bedrock, steep slopes, or seasonal conditions. Engineered or alternative systems are frequently required. Always get a professional perc test before purchasing land that needs septic.

Gardening & Agriculture

Well-drained soils on sloped terrain — good for most plants but watch for erosion. Terracing, contour planting, and mulching help retain moisture and topsoil. Drip irrigation is more effective than sprinklers on slopes.