Sulfonamides of the general formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is hydrogen of C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl,R.sup.2 is hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl; C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 -alkenyl; C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 -alkynyl or substituted or unsubstituted saturated or singly unsaturated 5- to 7- membered heteroaryl;R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are halogen; substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkylthio, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 -alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 -alkenyloxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 -alkenylthio, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 -alkynyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 -alkynyloxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 -alkynylthio, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -cycloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -cycloalkylthio, C.sub.5 -C.sub.6 -cycloalkenyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -cycloalkoxy, C.sub.5 -C.sub.6 -cycloalkenyloxy, C.sub.5 -C.sub.6 -cycloalkenylthio, phenyl, phenoxy, phenylthio, benzyl, benzyloxy or benzylthio;the group given for R.sup.2, or NR.sup.7 R.sup.8, where R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -alkenyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -alkynyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -cycloalkyl, C.sub.5 -C.sub.6 -cycloalkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl and/or benzyl bedeuten, or issubstituted or unsubstituted C.sub.4 -C.sub.6 -alkylene which may be interrupted or oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen;X is nitrogen or .dbd.CR.sup.5 14 ,where R.sup.5 is one of the radicals R.sup.3,n is 0 or 1 andA is substituted or unsubstituted mono- or dinuclear aryl containing one or two nitrogen, oxygen and/or sulfur atoms,and their agriculturally useful salts, and herbicidal and growth-regulating agents containing them.