Process for selectively controlling weeds in crops of useful plants

A process for selectively controlling weeds in crops of useful plants preemergence, which process comprises applying a herbicidal sulfonylurea of the formula ##STR5## or a salt thereof, in which formula Z is a radical ##STR6## L is halogen, nitro, --SO.sub.2 N(CH.sub.3).sub.2, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -alkylthio or C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -alkylsulfonyl,

• Q is halogen, nitro, --SO.sub.2 N(CH.sub.3).sub.2, --CO--R.sup.1, --(A).sub.m --R.sup.2, phenyl, phenoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -alkyl, halophenyl, halophenoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -haloalkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -haloalkylthio or C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -haloalkyl,
• n is the number zero or one,
• E is nitrogen or the methine bridge,
• X is methyl, methoxy or cyclopropyl, and
• Y is chlorine, methoxy, difluoromethoxy or ethoxy, where
• R.sup.1 is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -alkoxy, C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 -alkenyloxy or C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 -alkynyloxy,
• A is oxygen, sulfur, --SO--, --SO.sub.2 -- or --O--SO.sub.2 --,
• m is the number zero or one, and
• R is C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 -alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 -alkynyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 -haloalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.7 -alkoxyalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 -haloalkenyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 -haloalkynyl, with the proviso that R.sup.2 cannot be --CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 or --C.tbd.CH when m is the number one,
• nonuniformly to the area a to be cultivated, either by sowing seeds of said cultivated plants which have been pretreated with a herbicidally effective amount of said herbicide, or by applying a herbicidally effective amount of said herbicide simultaneously with untreated seed only into the seed furrow or seed hole.