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 Projects

CIRNA

ACTIVE

CIRNA - CIRcularity of Nutrients in Agroecosystems and co-benefits for animal and human health

ESSA - Earth observation and environmental sensing for climate-smart sustainable agropastoral ecosystem transformation in East Africa

ACTIVE

ESSA - Earth observation and environmental sensing for climate-smart sustainable agropastoral ecosystem transformation in East Africa

My Blog Posts

Healthy grassland soils support lush vegetation

ILRI News

How much carbon can Kenyan grasslands store in their soils? Insights from the CarboGrass Project

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

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

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Digging into Bomas

My Publications

Toward compatibility with national dairy production and climate goals through locally appropriate mitigation interventions in Kenya

  • Graham, Michael
  • Özkan, S.
  • Arndt, Claudia
  • González-Quintero, R.
  • Korir, Daniel
  • Merbold, Lutz
  • Mottet, A.
  • Ndung'u, Phyllis W.
  • Notenbaert, An Maria Omer
  • Leitner, Sonja

Greenhouse gas emissions from traditional livestock enclosures in Kenya and options for mitigation

  • Leitner, Sonja
  • Carbonell, V.
  • Yuhao Zhu
  • Butterbach-Bahl, Klaus
  • Barthel, M.
  • Mhindu, R.L.
  • Mutuo, Paul M.
  • Buchmann, Nina
  • Merbold, Lutz

Managing emissions and nutrient losses from cattle manure through cascades with carbonized materials in Kenya

  • Keino, L.
  • Yuhao Zhu
  • Roobroeck, D.
  • Chebet, Arusey
  • Oduor, C.O.
  • Njoroge, R.
  • Otinga, A.
  • Hendre, Prasad
  • Leitner, Sonja

Soil Mapping and Grassland Restoration at Kapiti

  • Rufino, M.
  • Leitner, Sonja
  • Quinton, J.
  • Pearce, F.
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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.

ILRI’s work on pig manure management for improving water quality in Uganda

  • Ibrahim, Wanyama
  • Leitner, Sonja