Marshall Islands Soil Surveys
The most common soil here is Ngedebus, on about 56% of the land: a sand, loose sand that holds almost no water. Majuro and Odesangel come next.
About 78% of the land drains well.
USDA rates 78% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 78% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 52% of the land floods occasionally or more.
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 Marshall Islands, 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.
Marshall Islands has 1 USDA soil survey areas covering a wide range of landscapes and soil conditions. The most common soil order is Entisols — young soils with little profile development, often on floodplains or steep slopes, making up roughly 99% of surveyed soils. Histosols — organic soils (peat/muck) formed in wetlands account for another 0%.
In terms of drainage, 100% of Marshall Islands soils are classified as somewhat excessively drained. Drainage class affects everything from septic system design to basement feasibility to garden planning. Use the survey area pages below to see drainage details for specific counties, or look up any address for an exact soil profile.