4-(substituted-oxy)-3-pyridinecarboxamides useful as plant growth inhibitory agents

A compounds of the general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, aralkyl, haloalkyl, lower alkoxy-lower alkyl, lower alkylthio-lower alkyl or lower alkoxycarbonyl-lower alkyl group; R.sup.2 is aryl group which may be substituted by one or more groups of halogen atom, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, lower alkoxycarbonyl, trifluoromethyl, cyano and nitro group; R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are, the same or different, lower alkyl, aralkyl, haloalkyl or cycloalkyl, or aryl group which may be substituted by one or more groups of halogen atom, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, cyano or nitro group; R.sup.5 is hydrogen atom, halogen atom, lower alkyl, phenyl which may be substituted or aralkyl which may be substituted; or R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 may be combined to form a group of --(CH.sub.2).sub.n - in which n is 3 or 4, or its 1-oxide or addition salt. which is useful as a plant growth inhibitory agent.