The invention relates to new substituted 4,5-diamino-1,2,4-triazol-3-(thi)ones of the general formula (I), ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 represents alkyl, alkenyl, alkinyl, halogenoalkyl, halogenoalkenyl, halogenoalkinyl, cyanoalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, aryloxyalkyl, arylthioalkyl, arylsulfinylalkyl, arylsulfonylalkyl, arylaminoalkyl, N-alkyl-arylaminoalkyl, alkoxycarbonylalkyl, alkoxycarbonylalkenyl, alkylaminoalkyl, dialkylaminoalkyl, in each case optionally substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkenyl or cycloalkenylalkyl, or optionally substituted heterocyclylalkyl, or in each case optionally substituted aralkyl, arylalkenyl, arylalkinyl, aroyl, aryl, aralkyloxy or aryloxy, for alkoxy, alkenyloxy or alkinyloxy,R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are identical or different and independently of one another represent hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkinyl, halogenoalkyl, halogenoalkenyl, halogenoalkinyl, cyanoalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, alkylthioalkyl, in each case optionally substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, aryl or aralkyl or in each case two of these radicals (R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 or R.sup.4 and R.sup.5) represent together alkanediyl and R.sup.5 can also represent alkoxy,X represents oxygen or sulphur andY represents oxygen or sulphur,a plurality of processes and new intermediates for their preparation, and their use as herbicides and plant growth regulators.