Mississippi Soil Surveys

82 survey areas

Mississippi has 82 USDA soil survey areas covering a wide range of landscapes and soil conditions. The most common soil order is Ultisols — strongly weathered soils with clay-enriched subsoils, common in warm humid climates, making up roughly 34% of surveyed soils. Alfisols — moderately leached forest soils with a clay-enriched subsoil account for another 33%.

In terms of drainage, 38% of Mississippi soils are classified as well drained. About 33% of soils have some form of poor drainage, which is important to consider for septic systems and foundations. 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.

Soil Types

Ultisols

34% of surveyed soils

Strongly weathered clay soils of the Southeast. Acidic and naturally low in nutrients. Clay subsoil can slow drainage.

Alfisols

33% of surveyed soils

Moderately weathered forest soils with clay-enriched subsoil. Productive for agriculture, generally good for building and septic.

Inceptisols

14% of surveyed soils

Young but developing soils found in mountains and river terraces. Variable properties — check drainage and bedrock depth.

Entisols

10% of surveyed soils

Young soils with little development — found on floodplains, dunes, and steep slopes. Properties vary widely by setting.

Vertisols

7% of surveyed soils

High-clay soils that shrink and swell dramatically. Fertile but challenging for foundations and septic systems.

Survey Areas

Adams County, Mississippi Alcorn County, Mississippi Amite County, Mississippi Attala County, Mississippi Benton County, Mississippi Bolivar County, Mississippi Calhoun County, Mississippi Carroll County, Mississippi Chickasaw County, Mississippi Choctaw County, Mississippi Claiborne County, Mississippi Clarke County, Mississippi Clay County, Mississippi Coahoma County, Mississippi Copiah County, Mississippi Covington County, Mississippi DeSoto County, Mississippi Forrest County, Mississippi Franklin County, Mississippi George County, Mississippi Greene County, Mississippi Grenada County, Mississippi Hancock County, Mississippi Harrison County, Mississippi Hinds County, Mississippi Holmes County, Mississippi Humphreys County, Mississippi Issaquena County, Mississippi Itawamba County, Mississippi Jackson County, Mississippi Jasper County, Mississippi Jefferson County, Mississippi Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi Jones County, Mississippi Kemper County, Mississippi Lafayette County, Mississippi Lamar County, Mississippi Lauderdale County, Mississippi Lawrence County, Mississippi Leake County, Mississippi Lee County, Mississippi Leflore County, Mississippi Lincoln County, Mississippi Lowndes County, Mississippi Madison County, Mississippi Marion County, Mississippi Marshall County, Mississippi Monroe County, Mississippi Montgomery County, Mississippi Neshoba County, Mississippi Newton County, Mississippi Noxubee County, Mississippi Oktibbeha County, Mississippi Panola County, Mississippi Pearl River County, Mississippi Perry County, Mississippi Pike County, Mississippi Pontotoc County, Mississippi Prentiss County, Mississippi Quitman County, Mississippi Rankin County, Mississippi Scott County, Mississippi Sharkey County, Mississippi Simpson County, Mississippi Smith County, Mississippi Stone County, Mississippi Sunflower County, Mississippi Tallahatchie County, Mississippi Tate County, Mississippi Tippah County, Mississippi Tishomingo County, Mississippi Tunica County, Mississippi Union County, Mississippi Walthall County, Mississippi Warren County, Mississippi Washington County, Mississippi Wayne County, Mississippi Webster County, Mississippi Wilkinson County, Mississippi Winston County, Mississippi Yalobusha County, Mississippi Yazoo County, Mississippi

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