English: Heading east on the edge of a sugar beet field. The blue flowering plant in the foreground is Lacy Phacelia (Latin name: Phacelia tanacetifolia). It is native to the arid southwest region of the USA and Mexico, but has been introduced to Europe, where it is extensively used both as a cover crop and as bee forage. In agriculture, phacelia is often used as so-called green manure crop. Green manure crops are sown and allowed to grow until the land is needed again or until the plants have reached a certain growth stage. They are then cut down and ploughed into the soil. Left to decompose, they release vital plant nutrients back into the soil, hence fertilizing it. Phacelia is also used as an intercrop with corn and sugar beet or as an undercrop in orchards. For a more detailed view see > 558485