the aid of a dispersing agent to form spray mixtures formulations containing the present active agent are often advantageously further modified by incorporation therein of an effective amount of a surfactant which facilitates the dispersion and spreading of the formulation of the plant leaf surfaces and the incorporation of the formulation by the plant in accordance with the present invention the active agent can be dispersed in soil or other growth media in any convenient fashion applications can be carried out by simply mixing with the media by applying to the surface of soil and thereafter dragging or discing into the soil to the desired depth or by employing a liquid carrier to accomplish the penetration and impregnation the application of spray and dust compositions to the surface of soil or to plant parts or the above ground surfaces of plants can be carried out by conventional methods e g powder dusters boom and hand sprayers and spray dusters whether surface or air borne however while such conventional modes of application can be used they are not required as above noted it is an advantage of the present invention that the compounds serving as active agent are active and effective as herbicides when merely placed on the surface of the soil without any additional step to assist incorporation thus the compounds are of substantially the same efficacy regardless of whether they are applied to the surface only or whether they are applied to the surface and subsequently disced into the soil.