Pershing County, Nevada, East Part
The most common soil here is Mazuma, on about 5% of the land: a fine sandy loam, gritty and crumbly. Oxcorel and Roca come next.
About 90% of the land drains well, and 9% stays wet for long stretches; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under 6% of it.
USDA rates 83% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 61% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 5% of the land floods occasionally or more, and bedrock lies within 40 inches under 41% of it.
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 Pershing County, Nevada, East Part, 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 D (very slow infiltration, high runoff). The most common soil order is Entisols — young soils with little profile development, often on floodplains or steep slopes. 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 Pershing County, Nevada, East Part. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roca-Reluctan-Sumya association | 78K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Oxcorel-Weso-Beoska association | 61K | Well drained | D | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Roca-Reluctan association | 61K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Mazuma-Trocken association | 53K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Not limited |
| Atlow-wiskan association MLRA 24 | 50K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Playas | 47K | Very poorly drained | Very limited | Very limited | |
| Mazuma-Swingler-Trocken association | 43K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Not limited |
| Misad-Snapp-Oxcorel association | 43K | Well drained | A | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Slaven-Iver-Cleavage association | 37K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Typic Udorthents, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 36K | Somewhat poorly drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Chilper-Trocken-Jerval association | 36K | Well drained | D | Not limited | Very limited |
| Bojo, steep-Hoot-Bojo association | 35K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Oxcorel-Beoska-Whirlo association | 34K | Well drained | D | Not limited | Very limited |
| Theon-Singatse association | 31K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Roca-Wiskan-Reluctan association | 31K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Oxcorel-Beoska association | 29K | Well drained | D | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Trocken gravelly very fine sandy loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes | 29K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Slaven-Linrose-Iver association | 28K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Whirlo-Beoska-Oxcorel association | 27K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Very limited |
| Weso very fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes | 27K | Well drained | B | Not 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
About 61% of soils are rated "very limited" for dwellings with basements. Specific challenges include shallow bedrock, steep slopes, poor drainage in some areas, flood-prone areas. A geotechnical assessment is recommended before building.
Septic Systems
About 83% 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.