Stable inoculant compositions and methods for producing same
The present disclosure provides non-aqueous inoculant compositions and methods for enhancing the survival and/or stability of microbial spores in an inoculant composition. In some embodiments, inoculant compositions of the present disclosure comprise microbial spores, one or more dispersants, one or more dust suppressants and a solid non-aqueous carrier.
1. A non-aqueous inoculant composition comprising microbial spores in a solid non-aqueous carrier that comprises one or more maltodextrins having a dextrose equivalent value of about 15 to about 20 and maltose, said one or more maltodextrins and said maltose comprising about 70 to about 95% w/w (weight by weight) of said inoculant composition based upon the total weight of said inoculant composition said inoculant composition comprising less than 0.5% w/w (weight by weight) water based upon the total weigh of said inoculant composition.
2. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , in which said microbial spores comprise one or more agriculturally beneficial microorganisms.
3. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , in which said microbial spores comprise about 5 to about 15% w/w of said inoculant composition based upon the total weight of said inoculant composition.
4. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , in which said microbial spores are present in a concentration ranging from about 1×10 1 to about 1×10 15 colony-forming units per gram of said inoculant composition.
5. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , in which said microbial spores are present in a concentration ranging from about 1×10 4 to about 1×10 11 colony-forming units per gram of said inoculant composition.
6. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , in which said microbial spores are present at a concentration of at least 1×10 7 colony-forming units per gram of said inoculant composition.
7. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , in which said one or more maltodextrins and said maltose comprise about 75 to about 85% w/w of said inoculant composition based upon the total weight of said inoculant composition.
8. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , in which said one or more maltodextrins and said maltose are present in a maltodextrin:maltose ratio of about 15:85 to about 85:15.
9. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , in which said one or more maltodextrins and said maltose are present in a maltodextrin:maltose ratio of about 35:65 to about 65:35.
10. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 , in which the solid non-aqueous carrier further comprises one or more dispersants.
11. The non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 10 , in which said one or more dispersants comprise about 2.5 to about 7.5% w/w of said inoculant composition based upon the total weight of said inoculant composition.
12. A method comprising applying the non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 to a plant or plant part.
13. A method comprising applying the non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 to a plant growth medium.
14. A coated plant seed, comprising:
a plant seed; and
a coating that covers at least a portion of an outer surface of said plant seed,
said coating comprising the non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 .
15. A kit comprising a plurality of plant seeds that have been treated with the non-aqueous inoculant composition of claim 1 .