Abstract
This study was conducted to estimate the decomposition capacity for organic matter by microbe of tidal flat sediments (Hajae, Dongjin and Mankyung). The decomposition rate constants (K') have been determined by Thomas slope method and compared with the values of each tidal flats. The decomposition rates of organic matter by microbe were initially very slow, but at the end of 12 hours, very sharply increased. The values of decomposition rate constant for Dongjin, Mankyung and Hajae tidal flat sediment were 1.364$day^{-1}$/, 1.080d$day^{-1}$ and 0.735$day^{-1}$, respectively. The decomposition rate constant of Dongjin tidal flat sediment which affected by livestock wastewater was higher than others. The decomposition quantity (mg/g/day) of organic matter by microbe of tidal flat sediments was 0.4mg/g/day for Dongjin, 0.36mg/g/day for Mankyung and 0.36mg/g/day for Hajae. The average of decomposition quantity was 0.37mg/g/day. To calculate purification capacity (kg/ha) of organic matter by microbe, we applied to two assumption ; 1) biological action by microbe is occur within 0.1cm under surface 2) specific gravity of sediment are 2.5g/$\textrm{cm}^2$. The purification capacity of organic matter by microbe of tidal flat sediment was calculated to 9.25kg/ha. The relationships between decomposition rate constant (K') and ignition loss (I. L), chemical oxygen demand by sediment (CO $D_{sed}$), total carbon(TC), silt and clay as index of organic matter were a high positive($R^2$=0.97~1.00).
