This experiment was performed to characterize the optimum water table level for the growth and yield of barley(var. Olbori) and wheat(var, Grumil), Olbori and Grumil were grown in the 550 liter plastic pot filled with silt loam or sandy loam, During the whole growth period, the water table adjusted to be 20, 30, 40, 50, and 70cm, Higher water table was resulted in the decrease in plant height and top dry weight, but in the increase of the ratio of top to root dry weight, especially in barley, This suggested that high water table level affected more the growth of top than that of root, The number and area of green leaves were decreased as the water table was higher than 30 to 40cm at the late growth period(May 18, 1993), The largest number and area of green leaves were shown at 50cm of water table in sandy loam and at 70cm in silt loam, As the water table was high, the leaf chlorophyll content was low, And barley was affected more significantly than wheat by soil texture, The photosynthetic activity was decreased remarkably at 20cm water table, Heading period was 2 to 3 and 4 days earlier at the 20cm water table of sandy loam in barley and wheat, respectively, However this earlier heading was not shown in silt loam, Grain filling was accelerated 5 to 7 days earlier in barley and 10 days in wheat grown at 20cm water table, The highest yield was present at 50 and 70cm water table, The yield was decreased remarkably at 20cm water table, resulting that yield reduction ratio of barley was 71.1% and 72, 2%, and that of wheat was 41.0% and 60, 0% in sandy loam and silt loam, respectively, High water table decreased the number of spike per unit area, but increased the seed weight per spike in barley, However, High water table reduced the seed weight per spike in wheat. There was significant correlation between yield and leaf chlorophyll content in wheat and barley, Yield was correlated significantly with green leaf area in barley, and with top dry weight, ratio of top to root dry weight chlorophyll content and photosynthetic activity in wheat. The optimum water table was 50 to 70cm in wheat and barley, They grew fairly well at 30cm water table of sandy loam, and at 40cm of silt loam.