What outcome results from the use of selective contact herbicides?

Selective contact herbicides are specifically designed to target certain plant species while leaving others unharmed. This is achieved by the herbicide's chemical composition, which affects the metabolic processes of the targeted plants, such as growth inhibition or outright killing, while not impacting the physiology of the non-target plants. This characteristic makes selective contact herbicides particularly useful in managing weeds in agricultural settings and forest management, where maintaining the health of desirable plants while controlling unwanted species is a priority.

In contrast, options reflecting indiscriminate killing or the promotion of invasive species do not accurately portray the function of selective contact herbicides. Additionally, these herbicides do not inherently improve soil properties; rather, they focus on controlling specific plant growth. Therefore, the ability to control targeted plants while preserving others is the key feature that defines the correct option.