Soil Series Atlas

Soils of North Dakota

371 soil series mapped on 41.74 million acres

050100150cm1 ft2 ft3 ft4 ftApTopsoil · plowed0–15 cm · 0–6 inBt1Subsoil · clay build-up15–25 cm · 6–10 inBt2Subsoil · clay build-up25–38 cm · 10–15 inBtkSubsoil · clay build-up, lime (carbonate)build-up38–61 cm · 15–24 inBkSubsoil · lime (carbonate) build-up61–91 cm · 24–36 inCParent material91–152 cm · 36–60 in050100150cmApTopsoil · plowed0–15 cm · 0–6 inBt1Subsoil · clay build-up15–25 cm · 6–10 inBt2Subsoil · clay build-up25–38 cm · 10–15 inBtkSubsoil · claybuild-up, lime(carbonate) build-up38–61 cm · 15–24 inBkSubsoil · lime(carbonate) build-up61–91 cm · 24–36 inCParent material91–152 cm · 36–60 in
Williams, to scale.

Mollisols — soils with a thick, dark, organic-rich topsoil

North Dakota’s state soil, Williams, is also its most extensive series, with 2,581,758 acres (6.2% of the mapped soil). Mollisols make up more than two thirds of the mapped soil (86.6%).

Atlas series mapped in North DakotaGuide: state soils and where series began

Soil orders in North Dakota

AlabamaArizonaColoradoFloridaGeorgiaIndianaKansasMaineMassachusettsMinnesotaNew JerseyNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOklahomaPennsylvaniaSouth DakotaTexasWyomingConnecticutMissouriWest VirginiaIllinoisNew MexicoArkansasCaliforniaDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaIowaKentuckyMarylandMichiganMississippiMontanaNew HampshireNew YorkOhioOregonTennesseeUtahVirginiaWashingtonWisconsinNebraskaSouth CarolinaIdahoNevadaVermontLouisianaRhode Island

Largest series in North Dakota

  1. WilliamsMollisols · 2,581,758 acres6.19%
  2. ZahlMollisols · 1,632,977 acres3.91%
  3. HamerlyMollisols · 1,485,308 acres3.56%
  4. BarnesMollisols · 1,295,079 acres3.10%
  5. TonkaMollisols · 1,150,797 acres2.76%
  6. BowbellsMollisols · 1,122,700 acres2.69%
  7. ParnellMollisols · 1,079,238 acres2.59%
  8. SveaMollisols · 973,026 acres2.33%
  9. AmorMollisols · 806,050 acres1.93%
  10. CabbaEntisols · 738,637 acres1.77%

Atlas series mapped in North Dakota

  1. Williams152 cm · Typic Argiustolls
  2. Cabbart152 cm · Aridic Ustorthents
  3. Cabba152 cm · Typic Ustorthents
  4. Zahl152 cm · Typic Calciustolls
  5. Barnes152 cm · Calcic Hapludolls