In eco-physiological studies, problems that originate from fieldrn, ,rnobservations aretack~d both through field work and laboratoryrnstudies. This paper presents e study made on the eco-physiology ofrnbarley (Hordeum Sect. Cerealia Ands.) cultivars cultivated inrnWelmera, Shoa.rnField studies, i.e. observations, discussions with farmers,Â· seed,;rnplant and soil sample collections and laboratory experiments andrnanalyses, i. e. pot experiments in the greenhouse on 9 barley cuI ti varsrneach cultivar planted in the 9 soils from the areas where the cultivarsrnVlere collected and mechanical and chemical analyses of the soils wererncarried out in the years 1979 and 1980. The data gathered werernsubjected to various statistical treatments,rn1'he results showed that there are wide differences both among thern9 soils and among the 8 cultivars of barley which were successfullyrngrown. One cultivar failed because of poor germination, Therndifferences observed among the soils were both physical and chemical,rnsome being more fertile and hence more suitable for most cultivarsrnwhile a few were extremely poor and unsuitable for most cultivarsrnexcept those that appeared to be specially adapted. The barleyrncultivars studied showed wide differences in their responses to thesernsoils and their distribution within Vlelmera appeared to be largely arnresul t of the differences in edaphic factorcs. Soil physical condi tiona,rnlevel of the available forms of cationic nutrients and some importantrnanions, ego phosphorus, and toxic heavy metals appeared to have stroncor impact on the pGrformancHu of barley cultivars than otherrnfactorso Tl~ climatic and the socio-economic factors also seenl tornhave some role, but of a smaller magnitude, in determining cultivarrndistribution within the area studied.. The soils based on theirrnfertility in decreasinc order were Foeta, North of Holetta,_ SubarnRoad, Berfeta 2, 'ilelmera Choke, I'lachacha 2 Wachacha I, Bedi andrnBerfeta 1. Several specific hypotheses were generated and the need forrnfurther studies shown: - Baleme requires a soil 101'1 in clay and highrnin calcium carbonate, Kesele requires a soil with 101'1 cl~y and highrnsand contents, Netch Gebs is sensitive to heavy metal toxicity,rnSemereta is sensitive to both physical, requiring soils with clayrncontent createI' than about 26%, and chemical conditions of soils,rni.e. it is an indicater of overall fertility of soils, Enat HetchrnGebs requires soils with high proportion of exchangeable magnesiumrnto exchangeable calcium, Keye Gebs requires soils that are rich inrnnutrients, Mouga requires soils that are well drained and rich inrnnutrients and Senef-Kollo requires soils with high exchangeablerncations particularly exchangeable calcium and magnesium.