What is one major impact of acid deposition on crops?

Acid deposition, which results from air pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides reacting with water in the atmosphere, can significantly harm crops. One major impact is defoliation, where the leaves of plants are damaged to the point of becoming unhealthy or falling off. This loss of foliage directly reduces the plant's ability to photosynthesize, which is crucial for growth and yield. Furthermore, the acidity can lead to nutrient leaching from the soil, disrupting the availability of essential elements that plants need to thrive, ultimately resulting in reduced crop yield. Thus, the adverse effects of acid deposition manifest as both direct damage to the crops themselves and indirect impacts through soil degradation.