Abstract: A method for making an agriculturally useful inoculant of dried, dormant bacteria is described. To make the inoculant, a suspension of Rhizobium or other bacteria is maintained, substantially separated from its culture medium, at a temperature in the range of about 0.degree.-30.degree. C. for varying periods of time under aseptic conditions. The bacterial suspension is then mixed with a porous chemically inert granular carrier such that the weight ratio of carrier to bacteria is in the range of about 0.5 to 1.0. Finally, the bacteria-carrier mixture is air dried for a period of about 2 to 10 days under aseptic conditions.