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 leaching and gaseous emissions, 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 to mitigate climate change. I work in both mixed crop-livestock systems as well as rangelands and am currently involved in projects in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Burkina Faso.

My Blog Posts

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

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

Digging into Bomas

My Publications

Feed database progress report 2022

  • Karimi, Peggy
  • Notenbaert, An Maria Omer
  • Mwendia, Solomon W.
  • Onyango, Alice
  • Anangwe Osore, Francis
  • Arndt, Claudia
  • Leitner, Sonja
  • Jones, Christopher S.

Identification of temporary livestock enclosures in Kenya from multi-temporal PlanetScope imagery

  • Vrieling, Anton
  • Fava, Francesco P.
  • Leitner, Sonja
  • Merbold, Lutz
  • Yan Cheng
  • Nakalema, Teopista
  • Groen, Thomas
  • Butterbach-Bahl, Klaus

Research progress on greenhouse gas emissions from livestock in sub-Saharan Africa falls short of national inventory ambitions

  • Graham, Michael
  • Butterbach-Bahl, Klaus
  • Toit, C.J.L. du
  • Korir, Daniel
  • Leitner, Sonja
  • Merbold, Lutz
  • Mwape, A.
  • Ndung'u, Phyllis W.
  • Pelster, David E.
  • Rufino, Mariana C.
  • Weerden, T. van der
  • Wilkes, A.
  • Arndt, Claudia
ILRI publication cover

The effect of environmental parameters and fertilization practices on yield and soil microbial diversity in a Kenyan paddy rice field

  • Gorfer, Markus
  • Borruso, Luigimaria
  • Deltedesco, Evi
  • Gichuhi, Emily W.
  • Menge, Daniel M.
  • Makihara, Daigo
  • Praeg, Nadine
  • Cesco, Stefano
  • Mimmo, Tanja
  • Merbold, Lutz
  • Leitner, Sonja

A new East African satellite data validation station: Performance of the LSA-SAF all-weather land surface temperature product over a savannah biome

  • Dowling, T.P.F.
  • Langsdale, M.F.
  • Ermida, S.L.
  • Wooster, M.J.
  • Merbold, Lutz
  • Leitner, Sonja
  • Trigo, I.F.
  • Gluecks, Ilona V.
  • Main, B.
  • O'Shea, F.
  • Hook, S.
  • Rivera, G.
  • Jong, M.C. de
  • Nguyen, H.
  • Hyll, K.

Perceived effects of COVID-19 restrictions on smallholder farmers: Evidence from seven lower- and middle-income countries

  • Hammond, James
  • Siegal, Kim
  • Milner, D.
  • Elimu, E.
  • Vail, T.
  • Cathala, P.
  • Gatera, A.
  • Karim, A.
  • Lee, Ja-Eun
  • Douxchamps, Sabine
  • Thanh Tu, Mai
  • Ouma, Emily A.
  • Lukuyu, Ben A.
  • Lutakome, Pius
  • Leitner, Sonja
  • Wanyama, Ibrahim
  • Pham Thi, Trang
  • Thi Hong Phuc, Phan
  • Herrero, Mario T.
  • Wijk, Mark T. van