Humphreys County, Tennessee
The dominant drainage class is Somewhat excessively drained and the dominant hydrologic group is A (high infiltration, low runoff). 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 Humphreys County, Tennessee.
| Soil Map Unit | Acres | Drainage | Hydro Group | Dwellings | Septic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bodine gravelly silt loam, 20 to 40 percent slopes | 110K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Bodine gravelly silt loam, 12 to 20 percent slopes | 59K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Dickson silt loam, shallow | 40K | Moderately well drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Humphreys gravelly silt loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes | 33K | Well drained | A | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Bodine gravelly silt loam, 5 to 12 percent slopes | 24K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Water | 20K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Humphreys silt loam | 12K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Paden silt loam, eroded | 7K | Moderately well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Ennis silt loam | 6K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Paden silt loam | 6K | Moderately well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Dickson silt loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes | 5K | Moderately well drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Baxter cherty silt loam | 4K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Paden silt loam, slope | 3K | Moderately well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Lindside silt loam | 3K | Moderately well drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Huntington silt loam | 3K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Melvin silt loam | 3K | Poorly drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Etowah silt loam | 2K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Riverwash | 2K | Excessively drained | Very limited | Very limited | |
| Ennis gravelly silt loam | 2K | Well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Dickson silt loam, 5 to 12 percent slopes | 2K | Moderately well drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
What This Means
Building & Foundations
About 77% of soils are rated "very limited" for dwellings with basements. Specific challenges include steep slopes, poor drainage in some areas, flood-prone areas, sandy or gravelly soils with low bearing capacity. A geotechnical assessment is recommended before building.
Septic Systems
About 93% of soils are rated "very limited" for septic absorption fields. The well-drained soils may actually drain too fast for standard leach fields, allowing effluent to reach groundwater. Engineered or alternative systems are frequently required. Always get a professional perc test before purchasing land that needs septic.
Gardening & Agriculture
Soils tend to drain very quickly, meaning nutrients and water don't stick around long. Raised beds with amended soil, drip irrigation, and heavy mulching will give the best results. Compost is your best friend here — it improves water retention dramatically.