Maury County, Tennessee
The most common soil here is Bodine, on about 10% of the land: a gravelly silt loam, smooth, like flour. Braxton and Armour come next.
About 78% of the land drains well, and 2% stays wet for long stretches; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under 6% of it.
USDA rates 74% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 58% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 10% of the land floods occasionally or more, and bedrock lies within 40 inches under 25% 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 Maury County, Tennessee, 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 A (high infiltration, low runoff). 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 Maury County, Tennessee. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bodine gravelly silt loam, 20 to 40 percent slopes | 29K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Gladeville-Rock outcrop complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes, extremely stony | 24K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Rockland, steep | 17K | Very limited | Very limited | ||
| Gullied land, phosphatic | 16K | Very limited | Very limited | ||
| Maury silt loam, eroded gently sloping phase | 15K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Armour silt loam, eroded gently sloping phase | 14K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Huntington silt loam, local alluvium phosphatic phase | 14K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Somewhat limited |
| Dellrose gravelly silt loam, 12 to 20 percent slopes, eroded | 13K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Braxton cherty silty clay loam, severely eroded sloping phase | 13K | Well drained | C | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Bodine gravelly silt loam, 5 to 12 percent slopes | 11K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Ocana gravelly silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes, occasionally flooded | 9K | Well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Frankstown coarse cherty silt loam, steep phase | 9K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Huntington silt loam, phosphatic phase | 9K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Lindell silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, frequently flooded | 8K | Moderately well drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Mines, Pits, and Dumps | 8K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Rockland, Mimosa and Inman materials, steep | 8K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Braxton silty clay loam, eroded sloping phase | 7K | Well drained | C | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Rockland, Mimosa and Inman materials, sloping | 7K | Well drained | C | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Dellrose gravelly silt loam, 5 to 12 percent slopes, eroded | 6K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Very limited |
| Mimosa cherty silty clay loam, severely eroded moderately steep phase | 6K | Well drained | C | 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.
What This Means
Building & Foundations
About 58% of soils are rated "very limited" for dwellings with basements. Specific challenges include shallow bedrock, steep slopes, flood-prone areas. A geotechnical assessment is recommended before building.
Septic Systems
About 74% 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.