N-Phenylsulfonyl-N'-pyrimidinyl- and -triazinylureas of the general formula ##STR1## and the salts of these compounds with amines, with alkali or alkaline-earth metal bases or with quaternary ammonium bases, have good pre- and post-emergence selective, herbicidal and growth-regulating properties.The symbols in this formula are as follows:A is a C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -alkynyl group,E is the methine group or nitrogen,X is oxygen, sulfur or a sulfinyl or sulfonyl bridge,Z is oxygen or sulfur,m is the number one or two,R.sub.1 is hydrogen, halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -alkyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 -alkenyl or a group --Y--R.sub.5,R.sub.2 is hydrogen, halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 -alkenyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -haloalkyl, or a group --Y--R.sub.5, --COOR.sub.6, --NO.sub.2 or --CO--NR.sub.7 --R.sub.8,R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 independently of one another are each hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkylthio, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -haloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -haloalkoxy, halogen or alkoxyalkyl having at most 4 carbon atoms,R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are each C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 -alkenyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 -alkynyl,R.sub.7 and R.sub.8 independently of one another are each hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 -alkenyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 -alkynyl, andY is oxygen, sulfur or a sulfinyl or sulfonyl bridge.