Patent attributes
Compositions including a core particle including at least one fertilizer nutrient and a shell substantially covering the core particle, wherein the shell includes at least one polymer layer or wax layer and one or more species of microbes (such as a population of cells from at least one species of microbes) are provided. In some embodiments, at least one of the polymer layer and/or the wax layer includes the one or more species of microbes. In other examples, the one or more species of microbes are included between layers, for example, between two polymer layers, between two wax layers, or between a polymer layer and a wax layer. Methods of preparing the compositions are also provided. Methods of using the disclosed compositions that include contacting soil, plants, plant parts, or seeds with the composition are provided.