Small red clover is a favorite for cereal underseeding because of its low seed cost and the fact that it does not grow as tall as medium red clover, therefore not hindering mechanical harvesting. However, clovers can host verticillium wilt. According to a Dutch study, white clover undersown in cereals can have a negative effect on the following potato crop yield. Hairy vetch is a fast growing winter annual legume but does not survive winter in most of Canada which makes it useful as a cover crop. Pulse legumes are mostly used as rotation crops but can also be used as cover crops.
Soybean is a very good green manure before potatoes especially in warm climates.
It is more tolerant of soil acidity than most legumes and is good against scab. A disadvantage of soybean grown as a crop is that it produces little residue and so does not contributes to the maintenance of soil organic matter levels. Lupine is a favorite in Eastern European countries as a cover crop preceding potatoes. Its effect on yields typically lasts for two years in the rotation. However, few lupine varieties are adapted to Northeastern North America.