The Evora field demonstration site is the most recent addition to the ProTerra project, joining in 2004. It also boasts the youngest vines in the project, which were planted in 2001 .

As part of a separate study, eight different cover crops were installed at the site in autumn 2002; each covering three adjacent inter-rows. The ProTerra team has chosen to compare the effects of just two of these treatments with conventional soil management on soil erosion losses. One treatment is leguminous; Medicago Sphearocarpos “Orion”, sown at 20kg/ha, the other is grass; Dactilis Glomerata “ Kasbah”, sown at 10kg/ha. Between establishment and 2004, management of the cover was by mechanical mowing. In 2004, the management was adapted to include chemical desiccation.

The central inter-row of each treatment has been hydraulically isolated for monitoring purposes. The sides of the inter-rows are confined by the natural ridges on which the vines sit. At the bottom, a funnel is used to transfer the sediment and runoff leaving the plot to a collection system where it can be quantified.

Each monitored plot measures 68m in length and 2.5m in width (vine to vine), giving a contribution zone of 170m 2 . Slope angle ranges from 6° at the top to 2.4° at the bottom. Sampling is carried out manually and field conditions experienced during each sampling period are recorded using an automatic weather station.

Soil moisture profile probes were installed on the treatments in 2005. It is proposed that the data collected from these probes will be used to calculate treatment effects on water availability to plants and rate of water movement through the soil profile in response to rainfall events. The results will show which soil management practice induces the greatest level of water stress on the vines, a subject which is of great interest to farmers.