Delimiting the effective canopy: How afforestation density restructures spatial foliage distribution and cross-scale carbon assimilation in a Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation

The "SDMPF data.xlsx" dataset provides comprehensive ecophysiological and microclimatic measurements for Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations across five different planting densities and varying canopy heights, compiling data across six interconnected sheets that detail localized environmental variables (such as leaf vapor pressure deficit, temperature, and photosynthetically active radiation), multi-year and monthly leaf gas exchange metrics (including net photosynthetic rate and water use efficiency), vertical leaf biomass distribution, morphological leaf traits (such as specific leaf area), and biochemical chlorophyll concentrations, altogether offering a robust empirical foundation for analyzing cross-scale carbon assimilation and structural canopy adaptations under competitive stress.