South Dakota Soil Surveys
South Dakota has 67 USDA soil survey areas covering a wide range of landscapes and soil conditions. The most common soil order is Mollisols — grassland soils with a thick, dark, fertile topsoil rich in organic matter, making up roughly 71% of surveyed soils. Entisols — young soils with little profile development, often on floodplains or steep slopes account for another 17%.
In terms of drainage, 79% of South Dakota soils are classified as well 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.
Soil Types
Mollisols
71% of surveyed soils
Fertile grassland soils with thick, dark topsoil. Among the best for agriculture, building, and gardening.
Entisols
17% of surveyed soils
Young soils with little development — found on floodplains, dunes, and steep slopes. Properties vary widely by setting.
Vertisols
5% of surveyed soils
High-clay soils that shrink and swell dramatically. Fertile but challenging for foundations and septic systems.
Inceptisols
2% of surveyed soils
Young but developing soils found in mountains and river terraces. Variable properties — check drainage and bedrock depth.
Alfisols
2% of surveyed soils
Moderately weathered forest soils with clay-enriched subsoil. Productive for agriculture, generally good for building and septic.
Aridisols
1% of surveyed soils
Dry-climate soils with low organic matter. Often have caliche layers that make excavation difficult. Low shrink-swell is good for foundations.
Survey Areas
Aurora County, South DakotaBadlands National Park, South DakotaBeadle County, South DakotaBennett County, South DakotaBon Homme County, South DakotaBrookings County, South DakotaBrown County, South DakotaBrule and Buffalo Counties, South DakotaButte County, South DakotaCampbell County, South DakotaCharles Mix County, South DakotaClark County, South DakotaClay County, South DakotaCodington County, South DakotaCorson County, South DakotaCuster and Pennington Counties Area, Black Hills Parts, South DakotaCuster and Pennington Counties Area, Prairie Parts, South DakotaDavison County, South DakotaDay County, South DakotaDeuel County, South DakotaDewey County, South DakotaDouglas County, South DakotaEdmunds County, South DakotaFall River County, South DakotaFaulk County, South DakotaGrant County, South DakotaGregory County, South DakotaHaakon County, South DakotaHamlin County, South DakotaHand County, South DakotaHanson and Hutchinson Counties, South DakotaHarding County, South DakotaHughes County, South DakotaHyde County, South DakotaJackson County Area, South Dakota, Northern PartJackson County Area, South Dakota, Southern PartJerauld County, South DakotaJones County, South DakotaKingsbury County, South DakotaLake County, South DakotaLawrence County, South DakotaLincoln County, South DakotaLyman County, South DakotaMarshall County, South DakotaMcCook County, South DakotaMcPherson County, South DakotaMeade County, South Dakota, Northern PartMeade County, South Dakota, Southern PartMellette County, South DakotaMiner County, South DakotaMinnehaha County, South DakotaMoody County, South DakotaOglala Lakota County Area, South DakotaPerkins County, South DakotaPotter County, South DakotaRoberts County, South DakotaSanborn County, South DakotaSpink County, South DakotaStanley County, South DakotaSully County, South DakotaTodd County, South DakotaTripp County, South DakotaTurner County, South DakotaUnion County, South DakotaWalworth County, South DakotaYankton County, South DakotaZiebach County, South Dakota