Project BEACON:
Biochar Evaluation Across Catchments for Outreach and Nutrient management
A farmer-to-farmer initiative transforming Northwest Arkansas agriculture through innovative biochar practices — improving soil health, protecting water quality, and building a sustainable future for our farming communities.
About the Project
Project BEACON brings cutting-edge agricultural science directly to farms in the Brush Creek watershed. Federally-funded and led by the University of Arkansas in partnership with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Beaver Watershed Alliance, the Carbon Chicken Project, and local producers, this initiative evaluates biochar-amended poultry litter as an innovative solution to reduce nutrient runoff while maintaining, even improving, farm productivity.
What is Biochar?Biochar is a carbon-rich material created from agricultural waste through a specialized heating process. When mixed with poultry litter and applied to pastures, it acts like a sponge—capturing nutrients, improving soil structure, and reducing runoff into nearby streams. |
Why Brush Creek?The Brush Creek watershed flows into Beaver Lake, the drinking water source for 1 in 5 Arkansans. Designated as a National Water Quality Initiative watershed by NRCS, it's a critical area where conservation practices can make a real difference for water quality. |
The Discovery WatershedBrush Creek will become Arkansas's first Discovery Watershed—a living laboratory where farmers, researchers, and conservationists work together to demonstrate proven practices and share real-world results with the broader agricultural community. |
Benefits for Participating Producers
Improved Soil Health
Biochar enhances water retention, increases nutrient availability, and supports beneficial soil microorganisms.
Biochar enhances water retention, increases nutrient availability, and supports beneficial soil microorganisms.
Water Quality Protection
Reduce nutrient runoff by 15-25%, protecting downstream water sources while maintaining productive operations.
Reduce nutrient runoff by 15-25%, protecting downstream water sources while maintaining productive operations.
Farmer-to-Farmer Learning
Join a community of innovative producers, share experiences, and learn from peers implementing best practices.
Join a community of innovative producers, share experiences, and learn from peers implementing best practices.
Expert Technical Assistance
Free training, workshops, field days, and one-on-one support from University of Arkansas researchers and extension specialists
Free training, workshops, field days, and one-on-one support from University of Arkansas researchers and extension specialists
Data-Driven Results
Scientific monitoring shows the real impact of your conservation efforts—backed by university research.
Scientific monitoring shows the real impact of your conservation efforts—backed by university research.
How the Project Works
Project BEACON takes a comprehensive approach, evaluating biochar effectiveness from the laboratory
to the field to the watershed scale:
to the field to the watershed scale:
Phase I:
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Phase II:
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Phase III: Watershed-ScaleBuilding on two years of baseline data, researchers monitor water quality changes as biochar-amended litter is applied across multiple farms, comparing treatment and control subwatersheds. |
Phase IV:
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Project Partners
Project BEACON brings together leading agricultural, conservation, and research organizations
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University of Arkansas The Speir Lab is an ecosystem ecology and stream biogeochemistry research group, studying nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment movement in agricultural watersheds. They lead the project's watershed monitoring, and data analysis. Beaver Watershed Alliance Nonprofit watershed organization leading outreach, producer engagement, and coordination across Beaver Lake watershed. |
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture The Arkansas Water Resources Center, Agricultural Experiment Station, Cooperative Extension Service, and Arkansas Discovery Farms Program provide certified laboratory services, technical assistance, on-farm research, and farmer education. Carbon Chicken Project Technical service provider specializing in biochar and biochar amended poultry litter production and implementation support. |
