Roosevelt County, New Mexico
The most common soil here is Amarose, on about 13% of the land: a fine sandy loam, gritty and crumbly. Amarillo and Arvana come next.
About 99% of the land drains well.
USDA rates 31% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 8% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Soils change over short distances, so look up an address below for the soil at that exact spot and the reasons behind each rating.
The soils you're most likely standing on
The biggest named soils in Roosevelt County, New Mexico, each drawn five feet deep from its official USDA description, in its recorded colors.
Dots mark gravel; white flecks mark lime. Shares are by acres across the survey area, and each mapped patch usually mixes several of these soils.
The biggest mapped areas
The dominant drainage class is Well drained and the dominant hydrologic group is B (moderate infiltration). The most common soil order is Aridisols — dry-climate soils with limited organic matter and often calcium carbonate accumulation. 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 Roosevelt County, New Mexico. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo fine sandy loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 97K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Amarose loamy fine sand, 0 to 3 percent slopes | 94K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Amarillo loamy fine sand, 0 to 3 percent slopes | 83K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Jalmar, Amarose, and Vestwells soils, 1 to 3 percent slopes | 71K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Arvana fine sandy loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 55K | Well drained | C | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Amarose fine sandy loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes | 52K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Douro-Amarose fine sandy loams 0 to 2 percent slopes | 49K | Well drained | C | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Spantara fine sand, 1 to 5 percent slopes | 46K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Not limited |
| Berwolf loamy fine sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes | 41K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Not limited |
| Friona very fine sandy loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 39K | Well drained | C | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Jalmar fine sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes | 38K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Gomez loamy fine sand, 0 to 3 percent slopes | 38K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Not limited |
| Ratliff sandy clay loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes | 36K | Well drained | B | Somewhat limited | Somewhat limited |
| Elida fine sand, 1 to 5 percent slopes | 35K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Midessa fine sandy loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 34K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Ratliff fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes | 31K | Well drained | B | Somewhat limited | Somewhat limited |
| Douro-Amarose loamy fine sands, 0 to 2 percent slopes | 31K | Well drained | C | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Amarose fine sandy loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 31K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Evanola-Redona association, 0 to 3 percent slopes | 29K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Acuff very fine sandy loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 25K | Well drained | B | Somewhat limited | Somewhat 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.
What This Means
Building & Foundations
Most soils are generally favorable for residential construction. Standard foundations are usually viable, though site-specific evaluation is always recommended.
Septic Systems
About 31% of soils have significant septic limitations, while others are more suitable. A perc test is essential — conditions vary across the area.
Gardening & Agriculture
Drainage is generally favorable for gardening. Adding compost and mulch will improve fertility and water retention. Test your soil's pH before planting — most vegetables prefer 6.0-7.0.