Mississippi Soil Types

Alfisols

• The western half of Mississippi has large amounts of alfisol soils, particularly on the southern side of the Mississippi River. These soils tend to be good for gardens and lawns as they are very fertile and usually well-drained. When these soils have plants growing in them they tend to dry out, as the plants leach moisture from the soil. You can recognize them by the layer of clay underneath the surface.

Entisols

• Entisol soils can be found scattered all over the state. These soils are not especially fertile, but can support crops. They can be identified by a complete lack of different layers under the surface: the color of an entisol soil is the same at every depth. These soils often are found on steep slopes and around rivers. They tend to be shallow in depth. You often don't have to dig too far down to hit rock.

Inceptisols

• Inceptisols also are found scattered across the state. They are capable of supporting agriculture and gardening. They are often found on steep slopes and around rivers, but unlike entisols they have different-colored layers with fuzzy and ill-defined boundaries.

Ultisols

• Ultisols are found everywhere in Mississippi but the northwest portion of the state. These soils are poorly suited to gardening and lawns because they have low fertility and high acidity. They likely need fertilization and lime treatments to make them suitable for gardening or lawns. They can be identified by an eroded, weathered appearance and red-yellow color. Ultisol soil has a layer clay under the surface.

Vertisols

• Vertisol soil easily is recognized by its dark black color and high clay content. When these soils dry out they develop deep cracks and fissures. Clay retains moisture and does not drain well. This makes vertisols unsuitable for gardening or lawns. The cracks they develop make vertisols unsuitable even for building. Vertisol soils are found in the extreme eastern and western portions of the state.