Microbial compositions

A method for preparing a microbial composition comprising encapsulated microbial particulates, the method comprising:

• atomizing a feed mixture comprising a gram-negative bacterium, a conductive carrier, and a solvent via an electrostatically charged nozzle to form a charged spray of the feed mixture wherein the conductive carrier and solvent migrate to an outer surface of the droplets and the conductive carrier at least partially encapsulates the gram-negative bacterium;
• contacting the charged spray of the feed mixture with a drying fluid to remove at least a portion of the solvent from the charged droplets of the feed mixture and to form the encapsulated microbial particulates;
• and
• recovering the encapsulated microbial particulates to form the microbial composition, wherein the composition has a gram-negative bacterium titer of at least about 1×104 colony-forming units per gram after about 180 days following preparation of the composition.