This invention relates to a novel carrier based bacterial inoculant with improved shelf-life, particularly at higher temperatures of the tropics. It is based on agriculturally important microbes, particularly bacteria, more particularly indigenous plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, either single genus or a combination of genera, incorporated, entrapped and immobilised in a water insoluble super-absorbent hydrogel matrix of high water absorption and retention capacity, improving the viability of entrapped microorganisms at high temperatures, either maintaining the population per unit matrix or providing favourable environment for their multiplication even after prolonged period of storage.
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