LOCATION FAIRPORT           MI+MN WI
Established Series
Rev. RWJ-WEF
08/2001

FAIRPORT SERIES


The Fairport series consists of moderately deep, well drained and moderately well drained soils formed in silty or loamy glacial till overlying limestone bedrock. These soils have moderate and moderately slow permeability. Slopes range from 0 to 25 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 32 inches, and mean annual temperature is about 43 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, active, mesic Glossic Hapludalfs

TYPICAL PEDON: Fairport silt loam - on a 1 percent slope in a cultivated field. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated).

Ap--0 to 7 inches; very dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) silt loam, pinkish gray (7.5YR 6/2) dry; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; slightly acid; abrupt irregular boundary. (6 to 9 inches thick)

E--7 to 9 inches; pinkish gray (7.5YR 6/2) silt loam; weak medium granular structure; friable; slightly acid; abrupt irregular boundary. (0 to 6 inches thick)

B/E--9 to 12 inches; yellowish red (5YR 4/8) silty clay loam (Bt); occupies about 90 percent of the horizon surrounded by pinkish gray (7.5YR 6/2) silt loam (E) occurring in root channels, cracks and as thick coating on faces of peds; weak angular blocky structure; firm; medium acid; clear wavy boundary. (0 to 3 inches thick)

Bt1--12 to 18 inches; reddish brown (5YR 4/4) silty clay loam; moderate medium angular blocky structure; firm; common faint clay films on faces of peds and root channels; medium acid; clear smooth boundary.

Bt2--18 to 25 inches; reddish brown (2.5YR 4/4) silty clay loam; moderate coarse angular blocky structure; firm; common faint clay films on ped faces; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary. (The combined thickness of the Bt horizons is 8 to 15 inches.)

C--25 to 28 inches; reddish brown (2.5YR 4/4) silty clay loam; massive; firm; strong effervescence; abrupt smooth boundary. (0 to 4 inches thick)

2R--28 inches; limestone bedrock.

TYPE LOCATION: Delta County, Michigan; 1,070 feet west and 200 feet south of northeast corner, sec. 19, T. 39 N., R. 18 W.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Solum thickness ranges from 15 to 35 inches. Depth to bedrock ranges from 20 to 40 inches. Reaction ranges from medium acid to moderately alkaline in the solum and mildly alkaline to moderately alkaline in the substratum. Rock fragments range from 0 to 15 percent by volume. The bedrock is limestone, dolomite, or dolomite limestone.

The Ap horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR and value and chroma of 2 or 3. Undisturbed pedons have an A horizon with hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 1 or 2. The E horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 2 or 3. The A and E horizons are silt loam, loam, or fine sandy loam. Some pedons have E/B horizons.

The Bt horizon has hue of 2.5YR to 7.5YR, value of 3 to 5, and chroma of 3 or 4. It is clay loam, silty clay loam, sandy clay loam, or loam. Some pedons have a BC horizon. When present it has hue of 2.5YR to 7.5YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 3 to 6. It is loam, clay loam, or sandy loam.

The C horizon has hue of 2.5YR to 7.5YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 3 to 6. It is silty clay loam, clay loam, sandy loam, or loam.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Allens Park, Bayerton, Elbeth, Gateson, Haugan, Lakoa, Nebish, Onaway, and Plome series in the same family and the Bohemian, Cunard, Longrie, Nester, St. Ignace, and Summerville series. All the above soils except Allens Park, Bayerton, Cunard, Longrie, Plome, St. Ignace, and Summerville do not have a lithic contact within depths of 40 inches. Allens Park soils do not have red hue and are underlain by granitic bedrock at depths of 20 to 40 inches. Bayerton soils have a B3ca horizon and are underlain by sandstone bedrock. Cunard soils are coarse-loamy. Plome soils have more acid sola and are underlain by sandstone bedrock at depths of 20 to 40 inches. Longrie soils have coarser textured sola and spodic horizons. St. Ignace and Summerville soils have a lithic contact at depths of less than 20 inches.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Fairport soils are on nearly level to rolling bedrock controlled till plains and glacial lake benches. Slope gradients are 0 to 25 percent. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 26 to 33 inches, and the mean annual temperature ranges from 41 to 44 degrees F.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the well drained Longrie and Summerville soils and the somewhat poorly drained Sundell soils, all with limestone bedrock within depths of 40 inches. Also associated are the Bonduel, Onaway, Namur, and Solona soils. Bonduel soils are somewhat poorly drained. Onaway soils have a bedrock below 60 inches. Namur soils have occur bedrock is within depths of 12 inches. Solona soils are somewhat poorly drained and bedrock is below 60 inches.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained and moderately well drained. Runoff is slow to rapid depending on slopes. Permeability is typically moderately slow, but a moderately permeable phase is recognized.

USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for hay, oats, pasture, and woodland with a limited acreage cropped to beans. Natural vegetation is northern hardwoods, with some northern whitecedar.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Upper Peninsula of Michigan and northeastern Wisconsin. This soil is of small extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: St. Paul, Minnesota

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Delta County, Michigan, 1969.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: ochric horizon - zone from the surface to 7 inches (Ap horizon); albic horizon - zone from 7 to 9 inches (E horizon); argillic horizon - zone from 9 to 25 inches (B/E, Bt1 and Bt2 horizons); a lithic contact of limestone bedrock at a depth of 28 inches.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.