The invention relates to N-phenylsulfonyl-N'-pyrimidinylureas and N-phenylsulfonyl-N-triazinylureas of the general formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen, halogen, nitro, amino, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkyl or a --Q--R.sub.7, --CO--OR.sub.8 or --(CO).sub.n --NR.sub.9 R.sub.10 radical,R.sub.2 is 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 containing not more than 4 carbon atoms,R.sub.3 is C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 alkenyl which is substituted by one or more fluorine or bromine atoms or by one or more hydroxyl, cyano, nitro, --(Y).sub.m --CO--(Z).sub.n --R.sub.8, --SO.sub.2 --NR.sub.11 R.sub.12, --S(O).sub.p --C.sub.1 --C.sub.3 haloalkyl or --S(O).sub.n --C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl groups and which may additionally be substituted by one or more chlorine atoms,R.sub.4 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 haloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkoxy or C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 haloalkoxy, R.sub.5 is hydrogen, halogen, --NR.sub.13 R.sub.14, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 haloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkoxy or C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 haloalkoxy,R.sub.6 is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkoxy,X is oxygen or sulfur, andE is nitrogen or the methine group, andR.sub.7 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl which is substituted by halogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkoxy or is C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alkenyl,R.sub.8 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 haloalkyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkoxyalkyl,R.sub.9, R.sub.10, R.sub.11, R.sub.12, R.sub.13 and R.sub.14, each independently of the other, are hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl,Q is oxygen, sulfur, the sulfinyl or sulfonyl bridge,Y is oxygen, sulfur or --NR.sub.16 --, wherein R.sub.16 is hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl,Z is oxygen, sulfur or --NR.sub.17 --, wherein R.sub.17 is hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl,m and n are each 0 to 1, andp is 0, 1 or 2, and to the salts of these compounds with amines, alkali metal bases or alkaline earth metal bases.These compounds have good pre- and postemergence selective herbicidal and growth regulating properties.