University of Arizonaa dot Cooperative Extension


Soil Water Holding Capacities for Selected Arizona Counties


Following is a compilation of the most common irrigated soils and their water holding capacities by county. The units for the water holding capacity is in inches of available water for plants per foot of soil depth. For example, a Grabe Loam in Cochise county holds 1.7 inches of available water for plants in the first foot of soil. This soil holds more water than this but not all of it is available to plants.

The data for these soils was obtained from the published Soil Surveys of the Soil Conservation Service (SCS). The water holding capacities are average. Soil type and texture varies greatly and many times no one soil defines a field. The user can contact their local Cooperative Extension Agricultural Agent or the local SCS office for help in determining the type and textures of the soils in their particular fields.

 
COCHISE COUNTY
Water Holding Capacity By Depth
     (Units are in Inches per Foot)   
Soil Series Name
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
foot
foot
foot
foot
Guest Clay Loam 2.4 2.1 1.8 1.8
Guest Sandy Clay Loam 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5
Pima Loam 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1
Pima Silt Loam 2.1 2.1 2.4 2.4
Grabe Loam 1.7 2 2 1.4
Grabe Silt Loam 1.4 1.4 1.9 1.9
Vekol Loam 2 2 2 2
Tubac Sandy Clay Loam 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.2
Hondale Sandy Clay Loam 1.4 1.2 1.2 1.2
Dona Ana Fine Sandy Loam 1.7 1.8 1.8 1.8
Bucklebar Fine Sandy Loam 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8
Karro Loam 2 1.7 1.4 1.4
Sonoita Sandy Loam 1.2 1.2 1.2
1.2
Elfrida Sandy Clay Loam 2.2 2.2 2.2
2.2
Cogswell Clay Loam 2.2 2.2 2.4
2.4
McAllister Loam 1.8 2 2 2
GRAHAM COUNTY
Water Holding Capacity By Depth
     (Units are in Inches per Foot)
Soil Series Name
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
foot
foot
foot
foot
Grabe Clay Loam 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8
Pima Clay Loam 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3
Pima Clay 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3
Gila Loam 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1
Glendale Loam 2 2 2 2
Guest Clay 2 2 2 2
Anthony Sandy Loam 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4
GREENLEE COUNTY
Water Holding Capacity By Depth
      (Units are in Inches per Foot)
Soil Series Name
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
foot
foot
foot
foot
Pima Silty Clay Loam 2.4 2.4 1.7 1.7
Hantz Silty Clay 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8
Guest Silty Clay 1.8 2 2 2
Glendale Silty Clay Loam 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1
LA PAZ COUNTY
Water Holding Capacity By Depth
      (Units are in Inches per Foot)
Soil Series Name
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
foot
foot
foot
foot
Lagunita Loamy Sand 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.6
Superstition Loamy Sands 1 1 1 1
Glenbar Silt Loam 2 2.4 2.4 2.4
Holtville-Kofa Complex 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.2
Gadsden Silty Clay 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9
Gilman Fine Sandy Loam 1.7 2 2 2
Vint Sandy Loam 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.2
MARICOPA COUNTY
Water Holding Capacity By Depth
      (Units are in Inches per Foot)
Soil Series Name
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
foot
foot
foot
foot
Gilman Loams 2 2 2 2
Estrella Sandy Loams 2 2 2.1 2.1
Avondale Loams 2.4 2.1 2.1 2
Mohall Loams 1.8 2 2 1.7
Contine Clays 2.4 1.9 1.9 2
Laveen Loams 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8
Coolidge Sandy Loams 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4
Antho Sandy Loams 1.3 1.6 1.6 1.6
Valencia Sandy Loams 1.3 1.5 1.7 2.1
MOHAVE COUNTY
Water Holding Capacity By Depth
(Units are in Inches per Foot)
Soil Series Name
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
foot
foot
foot
foot
Antho Sandy Loams 1.3 1.6 1.6 1.6
Gilman Loams 2 2 2 2
Laveen Loams 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8
Vint Loams 1 0.8 0.8 0.8
PIMA COUNTY
Water Holding Capacity By Depth
      (Units are in Inches per Foot)
Soil Series Name
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
foot
foot
foot
foot
Gila Loam or Sandy Loam 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1
Agua Very Fine Sandy Loam 2 2 0.7 0.7
Grabe Loams 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8
Glendale Loams 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4
Vinton-Anthony Sandy Loams 1 1 1 1
Anway Loams 2 2 1.9 1.9
PINAL COUNTY
Water Holding Capacity By Depth
      (Units are in Inches per Foot)
Soil Series Name
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
foot
foot
foot
foot
Casa Grande Clay Loams 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6
Mohall Sandy Loams 1.4 2.1 2.1 2.1
La Palma Sandy Loams 1.6 1.9 1.9 1.9
Vecont Loams 2.2 1.9 1.9 1.9
Trix Loams 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2
Pima Silt Clay Loams 2.3 2.2 1.6 1.6
Gila Loams 1.7 1.4 1.4 1.4
Laveen Loams 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8
YUMA COUNTY
Water Holding Capacity By Depth
      (Units are in Inches per Foot)
Soil Series Name
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
foot
foot
foot
foot
Gadsden Clay 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9
Glenbar Silty Clay Loam 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4
Harqua-Tremant Complex 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9
Holtville Clay 2.6 2.6 2.4 2.4
Indio Silt Loam 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.1
Indio Silt Loam, Saline 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2
Kofa Clay 1.8 1.8 0.7 0.7
Lagunita Silt Loam 2.4 0.7 0.7 0.7
Ripley Silt Loam 1.5 1.5 0.7 0.7
Superstition Sand 1 1 1 1
Superstition Complex 1.8 1 1 1
Rositas Sand 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7
   

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Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, James A. Christenson, Director Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Arizona.

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