defoliation
defoliation , noun
[Late Latin defoliare, defoliatum, to shed leaves; Latin de- + folium leaf: compare French défoliation.]
The separation of ripened leaves from a branch or stem; the falling or shedding of the leaves.
The deliberate defoliation of plants has been used in war (as in Vietnam) to deprive an enemy of cover and allow attack from the air; also, to destroy narcotic-producing plants as a tactic against illegal drug production. The chemical defoliating agents are often sprayed over large areas from airplanes.
2.
the act or process of causing plants to lose their leaves, especially by application of a chemical agent.