We evaluated the WAVE 2.1 and the EURO-ACCESS-Il models for the dynamics of volumetric soil water content in a cropped soil under Mediterranean conditions. A detailed data set was constructed tor a furrow-irrigated experimental plot on a homogeneous sandy soil, cropped with maize during the seasons 1992 and 1993. The calibration and the validation results of the models were evaluated by using both simulation graphics and two specific modelling evaluation statistics: the root mean square error and the modelling efficiency. Results showed that both models were able to predict the fate of water in this coarse textured irrigated soil subjected to semi-arid Mediterranean environmental and agronomical conditions. Reasonably good predictions of soil moisture were obtained by the models when considering total soil moisture storage in the root zone of plants. The deviations between the predicted and observed moisture values increased when considering each soil layer separately. Sensitivity analysis showed that the input values of the crop coefficient have a significant influence on predictions made by the WAVE 2.1 model. The input value of leaf area had a significant influence on the predictions of both models. Calibration tor the specific environmental conditions of the field sites is required before using any of the two models. Special attention must be given to the input values of those variables which are most affected by spatio-temporal variability within the field.