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Dr. K.Z. (Kevin) Mganga

Junior Assistant Professor 
Geosciences
Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development
Environmental Sciences
Environmental Sciences
Vening Meineszgebouw A
Princetonlaan 8a
3584 CB Utrecht

Dr. K.Z. (Kevin) Mganga

Junior Assistant Professor
Environmental Sciences
k.z.mganga@uu.nl
Profile Publications Teaching Contact
Profile Publications Teaching Contact
Areas of expertise
Research areas

Publications

2025

Scholarly publications

Song, J., Zhang, H., Gunina, A., Mganga, K. Z., Chang, F., Yu, R., Zhou, J., Chen, A., & Li, Y. (2025). Subsurface application of organic ameliorant in saline soils increases microbial necromass accumulation in mineral-associated organic matter. Carbon Research, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44246-025-00205-9
Chen, M., Kuzyakov, Y., Zhou, J., Zamanian, K., Wang, S., Abdalla, K., Wang, J., Li, X., Li, H., Zhang, H., Mganga, K. Z., Li, Y., & Blagodatskaya, E. (2025). High soil salinity reduces straw decomposition but primes soil organic carbon loss. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 207, 1-11. Article 109835. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.109835
Munene, R., Mustafa, O., Loftus, S., Banfield, C. C., Rötter, R. P., Bore, E. K., Mweu, B., Mganga, K. Z., Otieno, D. O., Ahmed, M. A., & Dippold, M. A. (2025). Contribution of arbuscular mycorrhiza and exoenzymes to nitrogen acquisition of sorghum under drought. Frontiers in Plant Science, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2025.1514416
https://research-portal.uu.nl/ws/files/262026029/fpls-1-1514416.pdf
Wen, Y., Yao, W., Yu, T., Cheng, L., Zhang, Q., Yang, J., Lin, F., Zhu, H., Gunina, A., Yang, Y., Mganga, K. Z., Zeng, Z., & Zang, H. (2025). Long-term organic farming improves the red soil quality and microbial diversity in subtropics. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 381, Article 109410. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2024.109410
Yao, W., Liu, Q., Wen, Y., Mganga, K. Z., Tian, B., Yang, Y., Zeng, Z., Qi, Z., Jones, D. L., & Zang, H. (2025). Increased seasonal fallow intensity enhanced the soil fertility of latosol in a tropical multi-cropping region. Soil and Tillage Research, 246, Article 106362. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2024.106362

2024

Scholarly publications

Mganga, K. Z., Munyoki, B., Bosma, L., Kadenyi, N., Kaindi, E., Amolo, K. O., Kioko, T., Musyoki, G. K., & van Steenbergen, F. (2024). Pasture farming for climate change adaptation in a semi-arid dryland in Kenya: status, challenges and opportunities. Discover Sustainability, 5(1), Article 508. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-024-00760-y
https://research-portal.uu.nl/ws/files/249001279/s43621-024-00760-y.pdf
Liu, Q., Yao, W., Zhou, J., Peixoto, L., Qi, Z., Mganga, K. Z., Yang, Y., Zeng, Z., & Zang, H. (2024). Winter green manure cultivation benefits soil quality and ecosystem multifunctionality under upland paddy rotations in tropics. Plant and Soil. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-024-06991-2
Wasonga, O. V., Mganga, K. Z., Ngugi, R. K., Nyangito, M. M., & Nyariki, D. M. (2024). Soil Properties and Stoichiometry as Influenced by Land Use, Enclosures and Seasonality in a Semi-arid Dryland in Kenya. Anthropocene Science, 3, 23–34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44177-024-00068-6
https://research-portal.uu.nl/ws/files/239626374/s44177-024-00068-6.pdf
Mganga, K. Z., Rolando, J., Kalu, S., & Karhu, K. (2024). Microbial soil quality indicators depending on land use and soil type in a semi-arid dryland in Kenya. European Journal of Soil Biology, 121, 1-8. Article 103626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2024.103626
https://dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/452390/1-s2.0-S1164556324000323-main.pdf?sequence=1
Daghighi, E., Ayugi, V., Daghighi, E., Farajpour, A., Mganga, K. Z., & Orthen, T. (2024). Better Soils for Resilient Agricultural Production. Journal of Academics Stand Against Poverty, 4(Special Issue), 10-28. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10697677
https://dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/437430/J_ASAP_2024_4_SI_1_Daghighi_et_al.pdf?sequence=1
Yan, Z., Jia, R., Zhou, J., Zamanian, K., Yang, Y., Mganga, K. Z., Zeng, Z., & Zang, H. (2024). Soybean inclusion reduces soil organic matter mineralization despite increasing its temperature sensitivity. Science of the Total Environment, 922, Article 171334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171334
https://dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/436884/1-s2.0-S0048969724014736-main.pdf?sequence=1
Clements, H. S., Do Linh San, E., Hempson, G., Linden, B., Maritz, B., Monadjem, A., Reynolds, C., Siebert, F., Stevens, N., Biggs, R., De Vos, A., Blanchard, R., Child, M., Esler, K. J., Hamann, M., Loft, T., Reyers, B., Selomane, O., Skowno, A. L., ... Woodhouse, G. M. (2024). The bii4africa dataset of faunal and floral population intactness estimates across Africa’s major land uses. Scientific data, 11(1), Article 191. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02832-6
https://dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/437344/s41597-023-02832-6.pdf?sequence=1
Kalu, S., Seppänen, A., Mganga, K. Z., Sietiö, O.-M., Glaser, B., & Karhu, K. (2024). Biochar reduced the mineralization of native and added soil organic carbon: evidence of negative priming and enhanced microbial carbon use efficiency. Biochar, 6(1), Article 7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-023-00294-y
https://dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/437753/s42773-023-00294-y.pdf?sequence=1
Martin Vivanco, A., Sietiö, O.-M., Meyer, N., Mganga, K. Z., Kalu, S., Adamczyk, S., Celis Huayllasco, S., Alegre Orihuela, J., & Karhu, K. (2024). Microbial carbon use efficiency and soil organic carbon stocks across an elevational gradient in the Peruvian Andes. Applied Soil Ecology, 195, Article 105228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2023.105228
https://dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/435068/1-s2.0-S0929139323004262-main.pdf?sequence=1

2023

Scholarly publications

Yan, Z., Zhou, J., Liu, C., Jia, R., Mganga, K. Z., Yang, L., Yang, Y., Peixoto, L., Zang, H., & Zeng, Z. (2023). Legume-based crop diversification reinforces soil health and carbon storage driven by microbial biomass and aggregates. Soil and Tillage Research, 234, 1-10. Article 105848. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2023.105848
https://dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/432304/1-s2.0-S0167198723002155-main.pdf?sequence=1
Meyer, N., Sietiö, O.-M., Adamczyk, S., Ambus, P., Biasi, C., Glaser, B., Kalu, S., Martin, A., Mganga, K. Z., Olin, M., Seppänen, A., Shrestha, R., & Karhu, K. (2023). Fate and stabilization of labile carbon in a sandy boreal forest soil: A question of nitrogen availability? Applied Soil Ecology, 191, 1-14. Article 105052. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2023.105052
https://dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/429918/1-s2.0-S0929139323002500-main.pdf?sequence=1
Mganga, K. Z., Kaindi, E., Bosma, L., Amollo, K. O., Munyoki, B., Kioko, T., Kadenyi, N., Musyoki, G. K., Wambua, S. M., Ndathi, A. J. N., Steenbergen, F. V., & Musimba, N. K. R. (2023). Multi‐stakeholder participation for successful implementation of applied research projects in Africa. Ecological Solutions and Evidence, 4(2), Article e12252. https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12252
https://dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/428982/Ecol_Sol_and_Evidence_2023_Mganga_Multi_stakeholder_participation_for_successful_implementation_of_applied_research.pdf?sequence=1
Heimsch, L., Huusko, K., Karhu, K., Mganga, K. Z., Kalu, S., & Kulmala, L. (2023). Effects of a tree row on greenhouse gas fluxes, growing conditions and soil microbial communities on an oat field in Southern Finland. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 352, Article 108525. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2023.108525
https://dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/428375/1_s2.0_S0167880923001846_main.pdf?sequence=1
Mganga, K. Z., Kuhla, J., Carminati, A., Pausch, J., & Ahmed, M. A. (2023). Leaf gas exchange characteristics, biomass partitioning, and water use efficiencies of two C 4 African grasses under simulated drought. Grassland Research, 2(1), 37-45. https://doi.org/10.1002/glr2.12040
https://dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/429937/Grassland_Research_-_2023_-_Mganga_-_Leaf_gas_exchange_characteristics_biomass_partitioning_and_water_use_efficiencies_of.pdf?sequence=1
Mganga, K. Z., Rolando, J. L., Kalu, S., Biasi, C., & Karhu, K. (2023). Priming effect depending on land use and soil types in a typical semi-arid landscape in Kenya. Biogeochemistry, 163(1), 49-63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-023-01016-z
https://dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/427788/s10533_023_01016_z.pdf?sequence=1
Nsikani, M. M., Anderson, P., Bouragaoui, Z., Geerts, S., Gornish, E. S., Kairo, J. G., Khan, N., Madikizela, B., Mganga, K. Z., Ntshotsho, P., Okafor-Yarwood, I., Webster, K. M. E., & Peer, N. (2023). UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration: key considerations for Africa. Restoration Ecology, 31(3), 1-8. Article e13699. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13699

2022

Scholarly publications

Mganga, K. Z. (2022). Agricultural Land Degradation in Kenya. In P. Pereira, M. Munoz-Rojas, I. Bogunovic, & W. Zhao (Eds.), Impact of Agriculture on Soil Degradation I: Perspectives from Africa, Asia, America and Oceania (pp. 273-300). (Handbook of Environmental Chemistry; Vol. 120). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/698_2022_929
https://research-portal.uu.nl/ws/files/231888765/698_2022_929.pdf
Mganga, K. Z., Sietiö, O.-M., Meyer, N., Poeplau, C., Adamczyk, S., Biasi, C., Kalu, S., Räsänen, M., Ambus, P., Fritze, H., Pellikka, P. K. E., & Karhu, K. (2022). Microbial carbon use efficiency along an altitudinal gradient. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 173, 1-12. Article 108799. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2022.108799
https://dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/422450/1_s2.0_S0038071722002565_main.pdf?sequence=1
Mganga, K. Z., Bosma, L., Amollo, K. O., Kioko, T., Kadenyi, N., Ndathi, A. J. N., Wambua, S. M., Kaindi, E. M., Musyoki, G. K., Musimba, N. K. R., & Steenbergen, F. V. (2022). Combining Rainwater Harvesting and Grass Reseeding to Revegetate Denuded African Semi-arid Landscapes. Anthropocene Science, 1, 80-90. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44177-021-00007-9
Meyer, N., Xu, Y., Karjalainen, K., Adamczyk, S., Biasi, C., van Delden, L., Martin, A., Mganga, K. Z., Myller, K., Sietiö, O. M., Suominen, O., & Karhu, K. (2022). Living, dead, and absent trees—How do moth outbreaks shape small-scale patterns of soil organic matter stocks and dynamics at the Subarctic mountain birch treeline? Global Change Biology, 28(2), 441-462. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15951

2021

Scholarly publications

Mganga, K. Z., Kaindi, E., Ndathi, A. J. N., Bosma, L., Kioko, T., Kadenyi, N., Wambua, S. M., van Steenbergen, F., & Musimba, N. K. R. (2021). Morphoecological characteristics of grasses used to restore degraded semi-arid African rangelands. Ecological Solutions and Evidence, 2(2), 1-8. Article e12078. https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12078
https://dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/422445/Ecol_Sol_and_Evidence_2021_Mganga_Morphoecological_characteristics_of_grasses_used_to_restore_degraded_semi_arid.pdf?sequence=1
Mganga, K. Z., Ndathi, A. J. N., Wambua, S. M., Bosma, L., Kaindi, E. M., Kioko, T., Kadenyi, N., Musyoki, G. K., Van Steenbergen, F., & Musimba, N. K. R. (2021). Forage value of vegetative leaf and stem biomass fractions of selected grasses indigenous to African rangelands. Animal Production Science, 61(14), 1476-1483. https://doi.org/10.1071/AN19597
https://dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/422444/AN19597.pdf?sequence=1
Shackelford, N., Paterno, G. B., Winkler, D. E., Erickson, T. E., Leger, E. A., Svejcar, L. N., Breed, M. F., Faist, A. M., Harrison, P. A., Curran, M. F., Guo, Q., Kirmer, A., Law, D. J., Mganga, K. Z., Munson, S. M., Porensky, L. M., Quiroga, R. E., Török, P., Wainwright, C. E., ... Suding, K. L. (2021). Drivers of seedling establishment success in dryland restoration efforts. Nature Ecology and Evolution, 5(9), 1283-1290. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-021-01510-3
Mganga, K. Z., Kaindi, E., Ndathi, A. J. N., Bosma, L., Kioko, T., Kadenyi, N., Musyoki, G. K., Wambua, S., van Steenbergen, F., & Musimba, N. K. R. (2021). Plant Morphoecological Traits, Grass-Weed Interactions and Water Use Efficiencies of Grasses Used for Restoration of African Rangelands. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 8, 1-12. Article 613835. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2020.613835
https://dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/422484/fevo_08_613835.pdf?sequence=1

2019

Scholarly publications

Mganga, K. Z., Razavi, B. S., Sanaullah, M., & Kuzyakov , Y. (2019). Phenological Stage, Plant Biomass, and Drought Stress Affect Microbial Biomass and Enzyme Activities in the Rhizosphere of Enteropogon macrostachyus. Pedosphere, 29(2), 259-265. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0160(18)60799-X
Mganga, K. Z., Nyariki, D. M., Musimba, N. K. R., & Mwang’ombe, A. W. (2019). Indigenous Grasses for Rehabilitating Degraded African Drylands. In Y. Bamutaze, S. Kyamanywa, B. Ram Singh, G. Nabanoga, & R. Lal (Eds.), Agriculture and Ecosystem Resilience in Sub Saharan Africa: Livelihood Pathways Under Changing Climate (pp. 53-68). (Climate Change Management). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12974-3_3

2018

Scholarly publications

Mganga, K. Z., Nyariki, D. M., Musimba, N. K. R., & Amwata, D. A. (2018). Determinants and rates of land degradation: Application of stationary time-series model to data from a semi-arid environment in Kenya. Journal of Arid Land, 10(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-017-0036-0
Mganga, K. Z., & Kuzyakov, Y. (2018). Land use and fertilisation affect priming in tropical andosols. European Journal of Soil Biology, 87, 9-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2018.04.001

2016

Scholarly publications

Mganga, K. Z., Razavi, B. S., & Kuzyakov, Y. (2016). Land use affects soil biochemical properties in Mt. Kilimanjaro region. Catena, 141, 22-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2016.02.013

2015

Scholarly publications

Mganga, K. Z., Musimba, N. K. R., Nyariki, D. M., Nyangito, M. M., & Mwang'ombe, A. W. (2015). The choice of grass species to combat desertification in semi-arid Kenyan rangelands is greatly influenced by their forage value for livestock. Grass and Forage Science, 70(1), 161-167. https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12089
Mganga, K. Z., Musimba, N. K. R., & Nyariki, D. M. (2015). Competition indices of three perennial grasses used to rehabilitate degraded semi-arid rangelands in Kenya. Rangeland Journal, 37(5), 489-495. https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ15023
Mganga, K. Z., Musimba, N. K. R., & Nyariki, D. M. (2015). Combining Sustainable Land Management Technologies to Combat Land Degradation and Improve Rural Livelihoods in Semi-arid Lands in Kenya. Environmental Management, 56(6), 1538-1548. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-015-0579-9
Mganga, K. Z., Razavi, B. S., & Kuzyakov, Y. (2015). Microbial and enzymes response to nutrient additions in soils of Mt. Kilimanjaro region depending on land use. European Journal of Soil Biology, 69, 33-40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2015.05.001

2014

Scholarly publications

Mganga, K. Z., & Kuzyakov, Y. (2014). Glucose decomposition and its incorporation into soil microbial biomass depending on land use in Mt. Kilimanjaro ecosystems. European Journal of Soil Biology, 62, 74-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2014.02.015
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