Plot-Level Leaf Equivalent Water Thickness (EWT) and Leaf Area Index (LAI) Measurements (2003–2021) at the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center (ENREC), Mead, NE, USA

This dataset contains long-term plot-level measurements of <b>Leaf Equivalent Water Thickness (EWT)</b> and <b>Leaf Area Index (LAI)</b> collected from 2003 to 2021 at the <b>University of Nebraska–Lincoln's Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center (ENREC)</b> in <b>Mead, Nebraska, USA</b>. These biophysical parameters were measured across multiple field plots under different crop and management conditions, providing insight into plant water status and canopy structure over time.EWT was derived using destructive leaf sampling and lab-based gravimetric analysis, while LAI was collected using optical sensors (e.g., LAI-2000) and validated with direct methods where applicable. These data support research on <b>precision agriculture, crop modeling, remote sensing validation, and ecohydrological studies</b>, particularly under varying irrigation and climate scenarios.