LOCATION FREER MN+WIEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Aeric Glossaqualfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Freer silt loam on a plane level slope in a cultivated field. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.
Ap--0 to 7 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) silt loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; few fine distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) mottles; moderate fine granular structure; friable; strongly acid; abrupt smooth boundary. (6 to 9 inches thick)
E--7 to 13 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) silt loam; many fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) and few fine distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) mottles; weak thin platy structure; friable; many very fine vesicular pores; strongly acid; clear irregular boundary. (3 to 12 inches thick)
B/E--13 to 18 inches; 70 percent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) silt loam (Bt); with 30 percent tongues of grayish brown (10YR 5/2) silt loam (E); common fine prominent dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) mottles; weak medium platy structure parting to moderate very fine subangular blocky structure; common distinct coatings of clean sand and silt particles on vertical cleavage faces; strongly acid; clear smooth boundary. (4 to 10 inches thick)
Bt1--18 to 24 inches; brown (10YR 4/4) loam high in silt, many fine prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6 and 5/8) and common fine distinct light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) mottles; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; friable; many faint grayish brown (10YR 5/2) clay films on faces of peds; common medium coatings of clean sand and silt particles on vertical cleavage faces; strongly acid; clear smooth boundary.
2Bt2--24 to 32 inches; yellowish red (5YR 4/6) loam, common medium distinct dark reddish brown (5YR 4/3) and dark reddish gray (5YR 4/2) mottles; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to thick and very thick platy structure; firm; many distinct gray (5YR 5/1) clay films on faces of peds; common distinct coatings of clean sand and silt particles on vertical cleavage faces; about 10 percent gravel; strongly acid; gradual smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bt horizons is 4 to 22 inches thick)
2Bt3--32 to 42 inches; reddish brown (5YR 4/3) fine sandy loam; moderate thin platy structure; firm; common distinct dark gray (N 4/0 - 5Y 4/1) clay films on lower surfaces of plates; about 10 percent gravel; slightly acid; diffuse smooth boundary. (0 to 14 inches thick)
2Cd--42 to 60 inches; reddish brown (5YR 4/3) sandy loam; massive, moderate thick platy-like soil fragments; very firm; about 10 percent gravel; slightly acid.
TYPE LOCATION: Mille Lacs County, Minnesota; about 1.5 miles north and 2 miles east of Milaca; 100 feet east and 15 feet south of the northwest corner, sec. 20, T. 38 N., R. 26 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The silty mantle ranges from 15 to 30 inches thick. Depth to dense till (paralithic contact) is 30 to 45 inches. Stony phases are recognized in places. The silty sediments contain 0 to 5 percent rock fragments, the 2B horizons contain 2 to 15 percent, and the 2Cd horizon contains 5 to 20 percent rock fragments by volume.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR value of 2 to 5, and chroma of 1 to 3. The A horizon commonly is silt loam but includes very fine sandy loam or loam high in very fine sand. It is very strongly acid to moderately acid.
The E horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 1 to 3 and typically has mottles. The E horizon is commonly silt loam, but includes very fine sandy loam or loam high in very fine sand. It is very strongly to moderately acid.
The B/E or E/B horizon has the same color and texture ranges as the E and Bt horizon. The E part occupies 15 percent or more of the matrix.
The Bt horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 2 to 6. The Bt horizon commonly is silt loam, or loam high in silt content, but the range includes very fine sandy loam, and fine sandy loam. The 2Bt horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 5YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 2 to 6. It is loam, fine sandy loam or sandy loam. These horizons have faint to prominent mottles. Bulk density ranges from 1.5 to 1.7 gm/cc. They are strongly to moderately acid.
The 2Btg or 2BC horizon has hue of 7.5YR, 5YR, or 2.5YR; value and chroma of 3 to 5. It is sandy loam or fine sandy loam. Some pedons have mottles in this horizon. It is moderately acid to neutral. Bulk density ranges from 1.7 to 1.9 gm/cc. They are firm or very firm. These horizons are somewhat restrictive to root penetration due to the platy structure, which is a property of the dense till, but not as restrictive as the Cd horizon.
The 2Cd horizon has hue of 7.5YR, 5YR, or 2.5YR; and value and chroma of 3 to 5. It is sandy loam, fine sandy loam or their gravelly analogues and is very firm. It is moderately acid to neutral. Bulk density ranges from 1.8 to 2.0 gm/cc. It is considered to be a paralithic contact.
COMPETING SERIES: These are Dusler, Keewatin, and Stuntz series. Dusler, Keewatin, and Stuntz soils have bulk density less than 1.8 throughout the whole series control section and C horizons. In addition, Keewatin and Stuntz soils have hue yellower than 7.5YR in the series control section.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: These soils have plane or slightly concave slopes and are on drumlins or moraines. Slope gradients range from 0 to 3 percent. Freer soils formed in silty sediments of eolian or lacustrine sediments and noncalcareous dense loamy glacial till of Late Wisconsinan Age. Mean annual temperature ranges from about 37 to 45 degrees F. Mean annual precipitation is about 24 to 33 inches. Frost-free days range from 90 to 150. Elevation above sea level ranges from 670 to 1450 feet.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: The Adolph, Auburndale, Brennyville, Freeon, and Santiago soils are the main ones. The Adolph and Auburndale soils are on lower lying areas or depressions and are wetter. The Adolph soils have a thicker A horizon. The poorly drained Auburndale soils are in areas where the silty layer is thicker than 30 inches. The Brennyville, Freeon, and Santiago soils are on higher lying areas and better drained. The Brennyville and Freeon soils have less clay in their Bt horizon.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained. Runoff is slow. Permeability is moderate in the upper part and very slow in the dense till. Depth to a perched seasonal high water table is as high as 1 to 2.5 feet at some time from November to June in most years.
USE AND VEGETATION: About half of this soil is cleared and cropped to corn, hay, and small grains. The remaining areas are pastured or forested. Native vegetation was mixed deciduous forest or mixed deciduous-coniferous forest.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: East-central Minnesota and north-central and northwestern Wisconsin. The soil is extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: St. Paul, Minnesota
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, 1927.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: ochric epipedon - the zone from the surface to a depth of 13 inches (A and E horizons); glossic horizon- the zone from approximately 13 to 18 inches (B/E horizon); argillic horizon - the zone from approximately 13 to 32 inches (B/E, Bt1 and 2Bt2 horizons); the 2Bt3 horizon is considered argillic because of the lithologic discontinuity between the silt and coarser texture; aquic moisture regime based upon dominant chroma of 2 or less on ped surfaces or in matrix of the argillic horizon; aeric feature - has a horizon with chroma too high for typic subgroup due to a shorter saturation period. The Cd horizon is considered to be a paralithic contact.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Refer to MAES Central file Co. 769 for results of laboratory analysis of the typifying pedon.