All the soils in the United States having the same series name are essentially alike in those characteristics that affect their behavior in the undisturbed landscape. Soils of one series can differ in texture of the surface layer and in slope, stoniness, or some other characteristics that affect use of the soils by man.On the basis of such differences, a soil series is divided into phases. The name of a soil phase indicates a feature that affects management.hey relate this behavior to properties of the soils. For example, they observe that filter fields for onsite disposal of sewage fail on a given kind of soil, and they relate this to the slow permeability of the soil or its high water table.