Soil series profile

Perrinton soil series

Perrinton is a moderately well drained soil with a loam surface, mapped on 56,471 acres in 13 counties in MI. Hydrologic group D.

#5452 by mapped area fine Oxyaquic Glossudalfs (Alfisols)

Drainage class: Moderately well drained
Hydrologic group: D
Typical topsoil pH: 6.2
Mapped area: 56k

Typical Perrinton profile

Texture and pH by depth

Depth to scale. More strongly shaded layers hold more clay. Horizon names are the soil survey's (A = topsoil, B = subsoil, C = parent material).

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Typical Perrinton horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–8 in (Ap)	Loam	6.2	15%	43%	2%
8–18 in (B/E)	Clay	6.0	42%	26%	0.75%
18–28 in (Bt)	Clay	7.4	46%	18%	0.4%
28–80 in (BC)	Silty clay	8.1	45%	12%	0.3%

Representative values from the most extensive Perrinton map unit (Perrinton loam, Lake Michigan Lobe, 2 to 6 percent slopes, survey area MI139). Other map units of this series vary within the series range.

Stock photo for illustration, not a sample of this soil series. Credit on the Sources & method page.

What this means

What Perrinton soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Perrinton soils is slightly acidic: pH 6.2 (most land between 6.2 and 6.7), the range most vegetables, flowers and lawn grasses prefer.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 100% of mapped Perrinton acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is loam (99% of mapped Perrinton acres).

100% of mapped Perrinton acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

For lawns and yards

On >99% of mapped acres, rain soaks in slowly (hydrologic groups C and D, including dual groups that are D until drained). Expect runoff and puddles after heavy rain: core-aerate compacted lawns and keep ground sloping away from foundations.

For a septic system

For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 100% of the acres in mapped Perrinton soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited.

Where the soil is very limited (slow permeability, a high water table, flooding, shallow bedrock or steep slopes), alternative systems such as mound or sand-filter designs are common and cost more.

Only a licensed site evaluation or perc test at the actual lot decides whether a system is allowed and which design.

Generated from the mapped numbers above using fixed rules, not a site visit. See how these notes are written.

Where Perrinton soil is found

Mapped acres

Perrinton is mapped in Michigan.

Counties with the most mapped Perrinton soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Ottawa County, MI	16,917	4.7%
Kent County, MI	9,143	1.7%
Barry County, MI	8,012	2.3%
Gratiot County, MI	5,939	1.6%
Oceana County, MI	3,665	1.1%
Manistee County, MI	3,272	0.9%
Newaygo County, MI	2,770	0.5%
Mason County, MI	2,248	0.7%
Mecosta County, MI	2,077	0.6%
Isabella County, MI	1,953	0.5%
Benzie County, MI	276	0.1%
Muskegon County, MI	196	0.1%
Clare County, MI	2	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Perrinton acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 100%

Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Perrinton acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Perrinton acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	100.0%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Perrinton acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: About 2.5 feet (30 in) (median where reported); within 18 inches on <1% of acres.
Flooding: Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
Slope: Typically 4–23% (median 4%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 2%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 43%

Moderately well drained 57%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

Drainage class across mapped Perrinton acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Drainage class across mapped Perrinton acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	43.4%
Moderately well drained	56.6%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%

Hydrologic soil group

A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) 0%

B: moderate infiltration 0%

C: slow infiltration 44%

D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) 56%

A/D: D as is, A if drained 0%

B/D: D as is, B if drained 0%

C/D: D as is, C if drained <1%

Hydrologic soil group across mapped Perrinton acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Perrinton acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	0.0%
C: slow infiltration	43.6%
D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet)	56.2%
A/D: D as is, A if drained	0.0%
B/D: D as is, B if drained	0.0%
C/D: D as is, C if drained	0.1%

Sources & data dates

Source: USDA NRCS Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO), queried through Soil Data Access. Public domain.
Data date: SSURGO as published on November 3, 2026 (most recent survey area update October 26, 2026). NRCS refreshes SSURGO each October.
Scope: All map unit components named Perrinton (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 56,471 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Perrinton components. The profile comes from the single largest Perrinton component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

Full narrative description: USDA Official Soil Series Description for Perrinton.