Basse plaine de l'Aude

Location:France
Area:12,002 acres (4,857 hectares)
Species:All  Endangered  Invasive
Climate:View Climate Data
Land Use:View Land Use Data
Köppen climate classification:Csa (Climate: warm temperate; Precipitation: summer dry; Temperature: hot summer)
Natura 2000 Data Sheet:View Data Sheet  Explanatory notes

Ecoregions

Northeastern Spain and Southern France Mediterranean forests

Soils

Protected Area Boundary
 ABC
    
Share70 %30 %70 %30 %70 %30 %
Soil TypeEutric FluvisolsDystric FluvisolsCalcaric CambisolsChromic CambisolsRendzic LeptosolsCalcaric Cambisols
Topsoil TextureMediumCoarseMediumMediumMediumMedium
Reference Depth100 cm100 cm100 cm100 cm30 cm100 cm
DrainagePoorPoorModerately wellModerately wellImperfectlyModerately well
Available Water Capacity150 m150 m150 m150 m15 mm100 m
Phase 1    StonyStony
Root ObstacleNone to 80 cmNone to 80 cmNone to 80 cmNone to 80 cm 60 - 80 cm
Impermeable Layer80 - 150 cmNone to 150 cmNone to 150 cmNone to 150 cm None to 150 cm
Soil Water RegimeWet within 80 cm for 3 to 6 months, but not wet within 40 cm for over 1 monthNot wet within 80 cm for over 3 months, nor wet within 40 cm for over 1 monthNot wet within 80 cm for over 3 months, nor wet within 40 cm for over 1 monthNot wet within 80 cm for over 3 months, nor wet within 40 cm for over 1 month Not wet within 80 cm for over 3 months, nor wet within 40 cm for over 1 month
Topsoil Properties
Gravel4 %10 %6 %10 %16 %6 %
Sand39 %79 %36 %49 %37 %36 %
Silt40 %12 %43 %28 %44 %43 %
Clay21 %9 %21 %23 %19 %21 %
USDA TextureLoamSandy loamLoamLoamLoamLoam
Reference Bulk Density1.4 g/cm³1.6 g/cm³1.39 g/cm³1.4 g/cm³1.41 g/cm³1.39 g/cm³
Bulk Density1.36 g/cm³1.39 g/cm³1.41 g/cm³1.31 g/cm³1.24 g/cm³1.41 g/cm³
Organic Carbon0.86 %0.87 %0.65 %0.98 %2.13 %0.65 %
PH7.25.386.67.58
Clay Cation Exchange Capacity63 cmol kg⁻¹34 cmol kg⁻¹52 cmol kg⁻¹42 cmol kg⁻¹80 cmol kg⁻¹52 cmol kg⁻¹
Soil Cation Exchange Capacity16 cmol kg⁻¹5 cmol kg⁻¹16 cmol kg⁻¹13 cmol kg⁻¹27 cmol kg⁻¹16 cmol kg⁻¹
Base Saturation91 %55 %100 %83 %100 %100 %
Total Exchangeable Bases16.9 cmol kg⁻¹2.1 cmol kg⁻¹24.3 cmol kg⁻¹11.6 cmol kg⁻¹28.8 cmol kg⁻¹24.3 cmol kg⁻¹
Calcium Carbonate0.5 %0 %7 %0.1 %6 %7 %
Calcium Sulphate0 %0 %0 %0 %0 %0 %
Exchangeable Sodium2 %3 %1 %2 %2 %1 %
Electrical Conductivity0.1 dS m-10.1 dS m-10.4 dS m-10.1 dS m-10.1 dS m-10.4 dS m-1
Subsoil Properties
Gravel7 %17 %10 %9 % 10 %
Sand41 %79 %34 %47 % 34 %
Silt38 %11 %43 %26 % 43 %
Clay21 %10 %23 %27 % 23 %
USDA TextureLoamSandy loamLoamSandy clay loam Loam
Reference Bulk Density1.4 g/cm³1.58 g/cm³1.38 g/cm³1.38 g/cm³ 1.38 g/cm³
Bulk Density1.39 g/cm³1.5 g/cm³1.45 g/cm³1.44 g/cm³ 1.45 g/cm³
Organic Carbon0.38 %0.26 %0.43 %0.47 % 0.43 %
PH7.55.58.16.7 8.1
Clay Cation Exchange Capacity61 cmol kg⁻¹38 cmol kg⁻¹54 cmol kg⁻¹44 cmol kg⁻¹ 54 cmol kg⁻¹
Soil Cation Exchange Capacity14 cmol kg⁻¹4 cmol kg⁻¹16 cmol kg⁻¹15 cmol kg⁻¹ 16 cmol kg⁻¹
Base Saturation96 %46 %100 %92 % 100 %
Total Exchangeable Bases15.2 cmol kg⁻¹1.5 cmol kg⁻¹28.7 cmol kg⁻¹11.9 cmol kg⁻¹ 28.7 cmol kg⁻¹
Calcium Carbonate2.5 %0 %8.7 %0.1 % 8.7 %
Calcium Sulphate0 %0 %0.4 %0 % 0.4 %
Exchangeable Sodium3 %2 %1 %1 % 1 %
Electrical Conductivity0.1 dS m-10.1 dS m-10.3 dS m-10.1 dS m-1 0.3 dS m-1
Soil data provided by FAO/IIASA/ISRIC/ISSCAS/JRC, 2012. Harmonized World Soil Database (version 1.2). FAO, Rome, Italy and IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria.
Köppen climate classification provided by Kottek, M., J. Grieser, C. Beck, B. Rudolf, and F. Rubel, 2006: World Map of Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification updated. Meteorol. Z., 15, 259-263