Patent ID: 8020343

Claim:
A method for preparing a partially desiccated liquid inoculant product, the method comprising: providing a liquid inoculant comprising bacteria from one or more of genera Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, Pseudomonas or Serratia grown to a substantially stationary phase; adding to the liquid inoculant, in an amount sufficient to partially desiccate the liquid inoculant, a desiccant treatment comprising a desiccant to form a partially desiccated liquid inoculant product, wherein the desiccant comprises from about 5% to about 50% by weight/volume of the partially desiccated liquid product and wherein the desiccant comprises one or more of trehalose, sucrose, glycerol or sorbitol; and allowing the partially desiccated liquid inoculant product to enter a conditioning phase, wherein the conditioning phase is about 1 day to about 10 days.