I am an ecologist and biogeochemist working on carbon and nitrogen cycling in natural and agricultural ecosystems. I investigate nutrient transformations and nutrient losses via gaseous emissions and leaching, with a special focus on greenhouse gas emissions (CO2, CH4, N2O). Currently, my research focuses on options for soil and manure management that reduce nutrient losses to improve livestock productivity and help achieve climate change mitigation and adaptation. Furthermore, I work on ecosystem carbon cycling and sequestration using novel tools such as Eddy Covariance towers. I work in mixed crop-livestock systems and rangelands and am currently involved in projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia.

My Blog Posts

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Mazingira Centre – a role model for environmental research infrastructure in Africa

cows in lake

Environmental externalities and greenhouse gas emissions from water pans and bomas in pastoral systems

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Digging into Bomas

My Publications

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Mechanisms behind high N2O emissions from livestock enclosures in Kenya revealed by dual-isotope and functional gene analyses

  • Xiantao Fang
  • Harris, S.J.
  • Leitner, Sonja
  • Butterbach-Bahl, Klaus
  • Conz, R.F.
  • Merbold, Lutz
  • Dannenmann, M.
  • Oyugi, A.
  • Shuwei Liu
  • Jianwen Zou
  • Six, Johan
  • Barthel, M.

Demonstrating the potential of biochar to reduce nitrogen losses and GHG emissions from manure and improve its fertilizer quality

  • Keino, L.
  • Yuhao Zhu
  • Roobroeck, D.
  • Chebet, A.
  • Oduor, Collins
  • Njoroge, R.
  • Otinga, A.
  • Hendre, P.
  • Leitner, Sonja

Greenhouse gas emissions from sheep excreta deposited onto tropical pastures in Kenya

  • Zhu, Yuhao
  • Butterbach-Bahl, Klaus
  • Merbold, Lutz
  • Oduor, Collins
  • Gakige, Jesse K.
  • Mwangi, Paul
  • Leitner, Sonja

A new feed database to accelerate decision making, environmental analysis, and soil modelling through access to region-specific nutritional and management data

  • Karimi, Peggy
  • Notenbaert, An Maria Omer
  • Mwendia, Solomon W.
  • Leitner, Sonja
  • Jones, Christopher S.

Simple manure management to retain plant nutrients

  • Leitner, Sonja
  • Kagai, Jesse
  • Saya, Nelson
  • Ngome, David
  • Mulat, Daniel

Quantifying Non-Photosynthetic Vegetation in a Mixed Grassland Using Hyperspectral Data: A Case Study in Kenya

  • Ceriani, R.
  • Fava, F.
  • Tagliabue, G.
  • Leitner, Sonja
  • Panigada, C.
  • Odongo, Vincent O.
  • Vaglia, V.
  • Mutuo, Paul M.
  • Kinuthia, Kelvin
  • Heidarian, R.
  • Fakherifard, K.
  • Pepe, M.